5 


A- 1 


A 


TUFTS   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 


3  9090  013  407  024 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
TutiS  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01 536 


^ 


^mnnij    (dw{ 


OLD  JIM  AVEEY'S 

OWN 

FARRIER  AND  RECIPE  BOOK, 

BEING 

A  CHEAPEE,  SAFER,  AND  SURER  METHOD  OF  FARRIERY  THAN 
ANY  EVER  BEFORE  OFFERED  TO  THE  WORLD: 

ALSO 

'  DISCLOSIIsG  THE  WHOLE  SECRET  AND  GREAT  MYSTERY, 
BOTH  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN, 

OF 

TRAINING  AND  EDUCATING  THE  HORSE, 

TOGETHER   WITH 

HINTS  ON  BREEDING  AND  SURGERY, 

CONTAINING  OVER  ONE  HUNDRED  CHOICE  RECIPES,  FOR  THE 

PREVENTION  AND  CURE  OF  DISEASES  IN  HORSES, 

ILLUSTRATED  WITH  ENGRAVINGS,  Etc.,  Etc. 

TO    WHICH    IS    PBEFIXED 

A  BIOGRAPHY  OF  THE  AUTHOR,  BY  A  FRIEND, 

"WITH  A 

Life-Like  Portrait  of  Old  Jim  himself. 


<  •  >  • » 


ALBANY^: 

PRINTED    BY    MUNSELL    &    ROWLAND, 
No.  78  STATE  STREET. 

1859. 


^4  ,. 


1 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859,  by 

JAMES   AVERY, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York, 


m 


•sp 


PREFACE. 


Good  news  for  the  horse;  joy  and  long  life  to  him.  Time  at  length 
has  produced  the  discovery  of  an  infallible  remedy  for  the  cure  of 
Farcy  and  Glanders. 

The  anatomy  of  the  horse  is  so  little  understood  by  a  majority  of 
those  who  have  to  care  for  and  do  with  him,  that  the  phrases  used  by 
most  writers  to  designate  the  different  parts  thereof,  or  even  a  gland 
or  muscle,*  are  as  foreign  to  their  purpose  as  it  would  be  to  call  them 
Anno  Domini;  for  they  scarcely  know  whether  they  are  reading 
about  the  horse  or  an  Egyptian  mummy.  And  in  fact  nothing  short 
of  a  collegiate  education,  or  a  full  course  of  lectures  on  the  subject, 
will  enable  a  person  to  comprehend  the  use  of  medicines  by  their 
names,  any  more  than  they  can  see  the  muscles  by  looking  on  a  por- 
trait painting  of  a  Raphael,  or  feel  the  warm  breath  of  a  sculptured 
marble  of  a  Powers,  or  of  a  Michael  Angelo. 

In  this  little  book  I  have  endeavored  to  call  things  by  their  right 
names,  and  carefully  avoided  the  use  of  all  technical  terms  without 
giving  their  meaning.  And  I  have  so  arranged  the  work  and  its 
index,  that  one  has  only  to  turn  to  any  particular  disease  he  may 
wish  to  look  at  to  find  the  symptoms  plainly  laid  down  and  the  means 
of  cure  given,  without  reading  the  whole  book  to  find  what  he  wants 
to  know. 


*  What,  for  instance,  does  the  farmer  understand  by  schirrus  (an  indurated 
gland),  metacarpal,  os  suffraginis,  sessamoid,  cs  coranae,  os  navicnlare,  and  os 
pedis,  with  the  metatarsals,  &c.  (names  of  bones),  unguintum  hydrargyri  fortis 
(blue  ointment),  semi-membrenosis  (a  muscle  of  the  leg),  aorta  motica  magna 
(an  artery),  extensor  carpiverdealis  longior  (a  muscle). 


IV  PREFACE. 

What  we  want  is  to  bring  the  horse  up  to  his  utmost  capabilities 
by  the  cheapest,  most  natural  and  inartificial  means  that  we  are  capable 
of  arriving  at.  In  time  the  things  of  eaith  fade  and  decay,  and  they 
may  as  well  be  worn  out  as  to  rust  out. 

The  artificial  life  that  the  domesticated  horse  is  compelled  to  lead, 
subjects  him  to  various  diseases  that  he  would  not  be  liable  to  in  a 
wild  or  natural  state;  and  the  only  remuneration  he  asks  at  our 
hands  for  his  services  (and  which  is  our  duty  to  reciprocate),  is  to 
make  up  to  him  what  he  lost  by  his  subjugation  to  man. 

"  With  a  very  beneficial  result,  the  rod  has  been  banished  from  our 
public  schools,  the  cat-o'-nine  tails  from  our  army  and  navy,  flagella- 
tion and  chains  from  our  lunatic  asylums."  Hence  we  see  the  bene- 
fit to  be  derived  from  extending  the  law  of  kindness  to  our  animals 
as  well  as  to  one  another.  And  I  should  be  right  glad  to  see  it  tried 
(as  it  never  has  been  yet),  on  a  grand  scale  which  must  result  in 
universal  satisfaction  to  man  as  well  as  the  horse. 

My  friend  has  written  the  biography,  and  I  have  consented  to  its 
publication,  further  I  have  not  a  word  to  say;  it  speaks  for  itself. 

The  words  to  be  found  in  the  preceding  note  are  all  proper  and  use- 
ful terms  to  the  scholar  who  has  been  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to 
understand  their  meaning,  but  they  are  a  dead  language  to  all  others, 
who,  I  think,  will  agree  with  me  in  saying  that  the  true  philosophy 
of  practice  is  founded  upon  the  laws  of  nature,  and  the  theory  of 
disease  upon  the  principles  that  those  laws  teach  us,  and  then  our 
materia  medica  will  be  the  boundless  forest. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR, 

BY    A    FRIEND. 


In  the  beginning  of  the  y^ar  1795,  Bilious  Avery  re- 
moved from  Wallingford,  Ct.  (being  then  twenty-two 
years  of  age),  to  the  town  of  Salisbury,  in  the  county  of 
Herkimer,  N.  Y.  After  clearing  a  small  piece  of  ground 
and  building  a  log  house,  he  returned,  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  to  his  native  state  and  birth  place.  In  June 
of  the  next  year  (1796)  he  married  Esther  Hall  Street, 
and  returned  to  his  new  home,  then  almost  surrounded 
by  a  dense  forest  for  many  miles  around.  But  very  few 
had  settled  in  this  part  of  the  county  before  them.*  Thus 
they  became  early  inured  to  the  hardships  of  settling  a 
new  country,  and  helped  change  the  wilderness  into 
those  cultivated  and  fruitful  fields  which  we  now  enjoy. 

As  a  natural  result,  from  this  union  there  grew  up 
nine  sons  and  two  daughters.     Although  the  advantages 

*  More  than  half  a  century  has  passed  since  the  town  was  first 
settled.  It  now  contains  nearly  three  thousand  souls;  and  still  there 
remain  over  forty  thousand  acres  of  unbroken  wilderness  within  its 
borders.  It  has  probably  furnished  as  many  well-to-do  farmers  as 
any  other  town  in  the  county. 


6  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

for  gaining  an  education  in  those  days  were  far  from  what 
they  now  are,  yet  they  succeeded  well  in  mastering  the 
common  branches,  and  fitting  themselves  for  the  import- 
ant stations  in  life  which  they  afterwards  held. 

James  (who  has  since  been  called  Old  Jim),  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  was  born  November  J 8th,  1809, 
being  the  sixth  son,  or  eighth  one  of  this  family  of 
eleven.  The  sequel  of  this  man's  history  discloses  seve- 
ral things  touching  peculiar  traits  of  character  and  habits 
of  life,  that  may  be  read  with  pleasure  and  profit  by 
both  the  youth  and  parents  of  our  land. 

Higher f  with  him,  was  ever  a  word  of  noble  meaning, 
"  the  inspiration  to  all  great  deeds;  the  sympathetic  chain 
that  leads,  link  by  link,  the  impassioned  soul  to  its  zenith 
of  gloryj  and  which  still  holds  its  mysterious  object 
standing  and  glittering  among  the  stars." 

As  the  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  in  childhood 
are  very  lasting,  and  have  considerable  influence  in  form- 
ing one's  character  in  after  life,  perhaps  it  will  not  be 
amiss  to  state  here  one  that  was  deeply  felt  by  him  in 
early  life.  We  paint  our  lives  in  fresco,  and  the  soft  and 
facile  plaster  of  the  moment  hardens  under  every  stroke 
of  the  brush  into  eternal  rock. 

He,  as  a  matter  of  course  in  the  early  part  of  his  life, 
was  brought  up  under  church  rule  (his  parents  being 
Presbyterians,  as  were  a  majority  of  the  New  England 
emigrants  who  came  to  this  state  in  former  days),  and, 
as  soon  as  his  infant  tongue  was  able  to  lisp  the  Lord's 
prayer,  he  was  taught  to  repeat  it  every  night  on  going 
to  bed,  by  his  Christian  mother.    This  was  well,  for  it  had 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


a  lasting  anji  beneficial  influence  upon  his  mind.  The 
next  thing  brought  to  bear  upon  his  mind  was  the  old 
fashioned  catechism  and  the  lessons  taught  in  the  Sunday 
school,  where  he  learned  to  read  tolerably  well  for  a  boy 
of  his  age.  Being  naturally  fond  of  reading,  he  was  at 
this  early  age  taught  to  read,  as  well  as  to  believe,  the 
Bible.  He  was  promised  a  handsome  new  book  if  he 
w^ould  read  the  Bible  through:  he  did  so,  and  was  then 
told  the  New  Testament  was  meant  to  be  included  in  the 
task.  He  then  went  through  with  thaf  also,  using  the 
day  time  and  a  good  portion  of  the  night  to  accomplish 
his  purpose.  He  was  finally  persuaded,  by  renewed  pro- 
mises, to  read  both  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  through, 
and  then  the  New  Testament  again,  making  twice  he 
read  the  Old  Testament,  and  the  New  three  times,  and  all 
this  before  he  w^as  nine  years  old. 

And  if  you  should  ask  him  if  he  ever  got  the  new 
book  promised  him  for  all  this  labor,  his  answer  would 
be,  no.  This  was  truly  discouraging  and  detrimental  to 
his  education;  but  which  of  the  two  w^as  most  injurious 
to  him,  the  promise  not  being  kept,  or  over-taxing  the 
mind  wMth  this  readings  I  am  not  able  to  say;  at  any  rate 
neither  promises  nor  books  were  valued  very  high  by  him 
for  some  ten  years  at  least,  for  always  after  this,  while  at 
school,  he  liked  sport  better  than  books,  and  would  have 
it  by  exciting  his  schoolmates  to  laughter  in  some  way 
or  other,  even  though  it^cost  him  an  occasional  flogging. 

Thus   life  bore  him   on    like  the  stream  of  a  mighty 
river.     His  little  boat*  being  once  launched,  it  first  glides 

*  See  verse  at  the  close  of  Hints  to  Purchasers. 


8  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

along  the  narrow  channel,  beside  the  playful  murmurings 
of  the  little  brook,  and  the  windings  of  its  grassy  borders, 
with  nothing  to  guide  its  course,  except  the  first  lessons 
taught  him  by  a  mother,  the  trees  shedding  their  blos- 
soms over  his  young  head,  and  the  flowers  of  the  brink 
seeming  to  offer  themselves  to  his  hands,  he  w-as  happy 
with  hope,  and  grasped  eagerly  at  the  beauties  around 
him.  But  the  stream  hurries  him  on,  and  still  his  hands 
are  found  empty.  But  not  so  with  the  mind;  it  is  this 
which  gives  beauty  to  the  rose,  throws  sublimity  around 
the  mountain  and  the  comet,  envelopes  the  cascade  with 
beauty,  and  the  heavens  with  grandeur.  And  in  propor- 
tion to  the  mind's  breadth  and  depth,  the  store  of  in- 
formation it  possesses,  and  the  accumulation  and  scope 
of  ideas,  so  are  the  loftiness  and  intensity  of  its  en- 
joyments. But  his  course  through  youth  and  manhood 
has  been  along  a  wider  and  deeper  flood,  amid  objects 
more  striking  and  magnificent. 

He  seemed  early  to  realize  the  circumstances  that  sur- 
rounded him,  and  was  fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that 
he  must  be  the  artificer  of  his  own  fame  and  fortune, 
and  that  success  could  only  be  looked  for  through  his  own 
exertions. 

While  yet  a  schoolboy,  he  made  himself  a  book  (not 
the  one  previously  promised  him)  of  clean  white  paper, 
in  which  he  daily  wrote  such  words  and  sentences  as  he 
happened*  to  hear  fall  from  thej^ips  of  others,  which  he 
thought  contained  any  moral  or  beautiful  language,  that 
might  be  of  use  to  him  in  after  life.  This  was  followed 
after  he  had  ceased  going  to  school,  by  keeping  a  record 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  » 

of  the  weather,  and,  to  him,  all  important  events,  where 
he  was,  what  he  did  each  day,  and  ending,  after  about 
thirty  years,  in  keeping  an  account  of  the  number  of 
horses  he  had  owned,  together  with  the  diseases  they  had 
been  troubled  with,  and  the  means  of  cure  employed  by 
him  and  others.  And  this  was  accompanied,  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  by  the  most  industrial  habits  of  his 
hands,  working  almost  incessantly  oh  his  farm  or  else- 
where, being  second  to  none  in  this  respect  according  to 
his  physical  strength.  Thus  he  became  a  very  useful 
citizen  as  well  as  benefactor,  and  was  endeared  to  his 
family  for.  producing  his  full  share  of  the  necessaries  of 
life  by  his  own  hands. 

"  Alike  to  him  is  time  or  tide, 
December's  snows  or  July's  pride; 
Alike  to  him  is  tide  or  time, 
Moonless  midnight  or  matin  prime." 

Being  animated  by  the  moving  picture  of  enjoyment 
and  industry,  he  thus  passed  along  (as  in  his  school-boy 
days)  until  he  is  brought  to  reflect  more  seriously  upon 
choosing  some  occupation  for  the  future  that  would  be 
congenial  to  his  mind,  when  one  day  he  chanced  to  pick 
up  a  copy  of  the  first  volume  of  Judge  Buel's  Cultivator, 
published  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  he  became  very  much 
interested  in,  and  he  soon  learned  to  appreciate  its  use- 
fulness while  reading  it  very  attentively  with  both  pleas- 
ure and  profit;  after  which  he  was  not  long  in  making 
up  his  mind  what  course  to  pursue  for  a  livelihood. 

Being  intensely  fond,  from  youth,  of  the  horse,  there- 
fore the  study  of  it  in  health  and  disease  would  be  just 
the  occupation  in  life  to  afford  ample  opportunity  to  sat- 


10  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

isfy  Lis  grow  ing  desires  in  this  respect,  as  the  horse  would 
be  brought  into  requisition  in  almost  all  his  industrial 
pursuits,  as  well  as  the  breeding,  raising  and  training  of 
this  useful  animal  (which  is  one  of  the  greatest  gifts  from 
God  to  man)  could  be  turned  to  profitable  account,  while 
the  whole  labor  and  care  would  be  attended  with  un- 
bounded pleasure. 

Thus  he  was  borne  along  the  stream  of  life,  being 
sometimes  excited  by  some  short-lived  disappointment, 
until  he  had  gained  a  competency  (for  the  time  being), 
when  his  past  joys  and  griefs  were  alike  left  far  behind. 
But  as  he  gradually  arose  in  the  scale  of  society,  he  dis- 
covered that  he  was  slighted  by  those  who  thought  them- 
selves his  superiors  (which  might  have  been  true  in 
artificial  acquirements,  but  not  in  original  strength  of 
mind).  Feeling  deeply  chagrined  at  this  unloooked  for 
conduct  in  those  who  ought  to  have  been  his  friends,  he 
resolved  to  outstrip  them  in  usefulness  by  applying  his 
mind  to  reading  and  study,  for  the  double  purpose  of  ac- 
quiring knowledge  and  avenging  himself  on  those  who 
had  thus  offended  him.  This  was  a  noble  resolution  of 
a  noble  mind,  and  one,  too,  that  was  well  kept. 

His  great  love  for  reading  and  learning  was  now  fairly 
rekindled  anew  (as  he  used  to  say  he  might  be  ship- 
wrecked but  could  not  be  delayed,  whether  the  sea  was 
rough  or  smooth),  while  a  portion  of  his  time  at  least, 
was  spent  in  reading  the  news  of  the  day  and  other  use- 
ful matter;  and  being  naturally  fond  of  the  horse,  he  did 
not  fail  to  read  every  thing  on  this  subject  that  he  could 
lay  his  hands  on,   as  well  as  to  throw  on  paper  every 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  11 

new  idea  that  occurred  to  him,  which  is  a  commendable 
habit  for  all  young  men  to  imitate,  on  this  or  any  other 
subject  of  importance.  He  is  one  of  those  men  who 
prefer  to  acquire  by  rough  experience,  what  others  might 
choose  to  be  taught.  And  he  generally  chooses  to  be 
governed  by  the  result  of  his  own  experience  and  reflec- 
tions rather  than  hazard  a  novel  experiment,  controlled 
by  sudden  excitement.  Although  it  requires  but  a  mo- 
ment's reflection  to  bring  him  to  a  position  he  deems  it 
his  duty  as  a  citizen  to  occupy,  yet  he  always  considers 
the  sober  second  thought  the  safest  to  act  upon  in  all 
great  measures  or  circumstances  in  life.  He  possessed 
a  vitality,  a  moral  vigor,  that  resisted  the  enervating 
influences  around  him.  The  early  principles  of  piety 
(though  he  did  not  always  follow  its  impulse),  instilled 
into  his  heart  by  his  strong  minded  mother,  did  help  to 
form  a  basis  of  rock  to  his  character  in  after  life,  which 
the  winds  of  temptation  in  vain  assailed  and  beset  on 
every  side,  in  almost  its  worst  forms,  and  not  the  less 
dangerous  because  lurking  in  flowery  ambush.  His 
gratitude  toward  his  benefactors  was  constant,  and  only 
equaled  by  his  affection  for  them. 

The  reader  will  readily  perceive  by  this  time  that  his 
life  has  been  a  somewhat  chequered  one;  and  he  will 
please  have  the  goodness  to  remember  that  a  smooth  sea 
never  makes  a  skillful  mariner;  neither  does  uninterrupted 
prosperity  and  success  in  life  qualify  a  man  for  useful- 
ness or  happiness.  The  storms  of  adversity,  like  the 
storms  of  the  ocean,  arouse  the  faculties,  excite  the  in- 
vention,   prudence,  skill  and   fortitude  of  the  voyager. 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

"  The  martyrs  of  ancient  times,  in  bracing  their  minds 
to  outward  calamities,  acquired  a  loftiness  of  purpose  and 
heroism,  worth  a  life  of  ease  and  security." 

But  the  river  hastens  his  little  boat  towards  its  goal. 
Thus  he  sails  along  through  some  twenty  years  of  his  life, 
in  almost  uninterrupted  peace  and  usefulness;  and  what- 
ever his  faults  might  have  been,  they  were  regarded  only 
as  the  common  frailties  of  mankind.  For  he  always  chose 
to  be  right  rather  than  be  popular;  or^  in  other  words, 
he  was  unwilling  to  sacrifice  principle  for  expediency. 
Those  who  were  acquainted  with  him  through  this  part 
of  his  journey,  speak  of  him  as  being  kind  and  generous 
almost  to  a  fault;  to  whom  an  appeal  for  sympathy  or 
relief,  was  sure  to  find  a  ready  and  cheerful  response. 
And  whatever  his  mind  seemed  to  lack  of  w-it  and  fancy, 
was  owing  to  a  want  of  an  early  polish;  but  without 
this  and  the  adventitious  aid  of  fortune  (only  what  was 
acquired  by  his  industrious  pursuits  on  his  farm),  he 
gained  a  place  in  society  that  was  worthy  of  any  man. 
He  accomplished  this  by  the  force  of  a  strong  native  in- 
tellect, cultivated  and  improved  by  application  to  study 
in  hours  of  relaxation  from  work,  and  which  w^as  further 
strengthened  by  the  closest  observation  based  on  a  sound 
judgment.  Therefore  he  may  well  be  styled  what  Is 
called  a  "  self  made  man." 

His  little  boat  has  brought  him  now  where  the  roar  of 
the  ocean  is  in  his  ears.  It  seems  to  grow  in  size  as  the 
w^aters  expand.  As  his  wants  increase,  he  has  to  throw 
out  more  sail  or  be  shipwrecked;  and  when  he  thinks 
himself  sufficiently   rigged   for  the  coasting   trade,   and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  13 

fairly  launched  on  the  ocean  of  life,  he  engages  in  specu- 
lation, thinking  it  might  be  more  remunerative  than  his 
farmer  labors.  But  he  has  often  strove  to  accumulate 
money  for  the  pleasure  it  gave  him  in  doing  so,  as  from 
necessity,  though  he  may  sometimes  have  been  straight- 
ened to  obtain  a  sufficient  sum  to  meet  his  present  de- 
mands. He  generally,  however,  contrived  some  way  to 
take  on  board  enough  ballast  to  counterbalance  the  sail 
he  gave  to  the  barge. 

For  a  time  he  was  very  successful  in  his  new  occupa- 
tion, when  he  came  very  near  losing  all,  which  was  ac- 
complished by  a  trio  of  black-coated  villains,  assisted  by 
one  of  the  legal  profession,  whose  heart  was  blacker  than 
his  coat.  This  put  a  damper  on  his  operations  for  the 
time  being,  it  is  true,  but  his  ever  hopeful  heart  was  not 
to  be  crushed  out  in  this  way.  Nor  could  he  be  induced 
to  join  these  scamps  for  the  sake  of  repairing  his  fortune 
(as  offers  were  made  him  to  this  effect),  but  he  did  not 
despair.  He  never  hoisted  the  black  flag  in  his  life,  but 
left  the  work  of  repentance  and  punishment  to  whom  it 
belonged.  He  only  had  to  fall  back  to  his  former  pur- 
suits of  industry  and  economy,  to  soon  wipe  out  his  in- 
debtedness brought  about  by  the  heartless  scoundrels,  and 
preserve  his  integrity,  which  was  never  questioned  by 
those  who  knew  him  best. 

He  was  temperate  in  prosperity,  resolute  and  untiring 
in  adversity,  which,  to  say  the  least,  is  a  part  of  a  great 
mind.  By  thus  squaring  tfie  yards  and  bracing  the  sails 
(as  he  soon  learned  to  do)  of  his  little  boat,  that  he  first 
started  with  down  the  grassy  borders  of  the  little  stream, 
it  has  at  length  grown  to  a  middle  sized  ship,  compared 

2 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

with  the  surrounding  sail  on  the  ocean  of  life,  where  the 
storms  and  waves  are  tossing  us  about.  And  he  has  been 
able  to  steer  his  craft  thus  far  through  life's  meanderings, 
and  to  adhere  firmly  to  the  first  principles  of  virtue 
taught  him  in  youth,  which  ever  appear  like  stars  in  the 
firmament,  or  like  a  bright  ornament  among  the  rubies 
that  make  life  pleasant  and  beautiful. 

Thus  he  has  occupied  a  place  in  the  great  hive  of  hu- 
man industry,  content  with  study,  and  producing  the 
sweets  of  peace  and  innocent  pleasure  by  the  sweat  of 
the  brow.  He  possessed  a  mind  that,  with  the  advan- 
tages of  an  early  education,  and  aided  by  encouragement 
from  family  connection  or  friends,  might  have  raised  him 
still  to  a  higher  sphere  of  usefulness. 

"All  superiority  and  pre-eminence  that  one  man  can 
have  over  another,  may  be  reduced  to  the  notion  of 
quality;"  which,  considered  at  large,  is  either  that  of 
fortune,  body  or  mind.  The  first  of  these  is  that  which 
consists  in  birth,  titles,  or  riches;  and  it  is  the  most 
foreign  to  our  natures,  and  what  we  can  the  least  call 
our  own  of  the  three  qualities  named.  In  relation  to  the 
body,  quality  arises  frotn  health,  strength  or  beauty, 
which  is  nearer  to  us,  and  more  a  part  of  ourselves  than 
the  former.  Quality  of  mind  has  for  its  source,  know- 
ledge and  virtue.  It  is  more  essential  to  and  more  inti- 
mately united  with  us,  than  either  of  the  other  two. 
Every  one  knows  that  there  are  moments,  nay,  hours  of 
moral  weakness,  when  the  soul  quails  before  its  inevita- 
ble portion — when  the  gloom  of  some  terrible  dread  shuts 
out  every  ray  of  hope,  and  a  courage  almost  superhuman 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  15 

is  needed  to  endure  and  brave  the  trial.  He  used  to  say 
the  best  way  was  as  good  as  any.  And  he  never  failed 
to  meet  bravely  the  trials,  the  unavoidable  trials  of  life, 
after  withdrawing  from  the  noise  and  clamor  of  a  busy 
world  for  a  time  sufficient  for  repose  and  reflection,  when 
he  always  came  forth  with  brightened  hope  and  renewed 
vigor,  which  enabled  him  to  confront  the  dangers  of  the 
world  and  brave  the  trials  of  life  with  fortitude,  for,  if 
he  ever  was  ensnared  it  was  while  acting  under  the  im- 
pulse of  the  moment.  But  there  are  weak  souls  to  whom 
the  hour  of  triumph  never  comes.  Some  of  these  the 
grave  early  claitns,  and  they  fade  from  out  the  memory 
that  should  have  cherished  them.  Others  rush  to  a  source 
of  artificial  strength,  too  ignorant  or  too  heedless  of  con- 
sequences to  give  heed  to  the  voice  of  kindly  remon- 
strance, w^hich  much  be  followed  by  a  deeper  depth  of 
weakness  and  moral  cowardice. 

We  can  give  the  outlines  of  one's  character  and  qual- 
ity of  mind  as  far  as  we  become  acquainted  with  them, 
and  still  there  is  something  wanting.  Every  one,  while 
reading  the  life  and  acts  of  another,  has  a  desire  to  know 
how  he  looks,  which  can  be  satisfied  better  by  viewing 
his  portrait  than  I  can  do  it  with  the  pen.  But  this 
much  I  can  say  for  him:  his  physical  qualities  are  worthy 
of  the  mind  and  heart  that  animates  them.  Ho  stands 
about  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height;  his  frame  is  strong, 
muscular,  but  admirably  proportioned,  while  his  head  is 
massive,  the  forehead  being  high  and  broad,  exhibiting 
what  phrenologists  call  the  organs  of  ideality,  causality, 
benevolence  and  veneration  in  full  development.  He  has 
a  clear,  blue  and  expressive  eye,  brown  hair,  the  mouth 


16  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

firm  but  not  compressed,  and  chin  round  and  finished 
when  shaved  so  that  one  can  see  it.  In  a  word.,  a  union 
of  intellectual,  benevolent  and  fearless  expression,  with 
good  deportment,  and  about  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
pounds  as  an  average  weight,  make  him  rather  a  prepos- 
sessing figure  to  look  at. 

In  youth  he  was  remarkably  spry.  His  frowns  and 
gestures  were  such,  when  the  lion  within  was  aroused  by 
ill-treatment,  that  but  few  men  cared  to  cross  his  path  a 
second  time.  But  this  has  been  overbalanced  since  by 
cultivation  of  the  mind  and  learning  to  govern  his  pas- 
sions, though  he,  like  most  of  his  race,  is  unwilling  to 
brook  an  insult  without  a  proper  resentment.  We  always 
find  in  those  possessed  of  the  finer  feelings  of  our  nature, 
the  opposite  qualities  of  mind,  especially  when  harrowed 
up  to  a  pitch  that  is  no  longer  endurable;  for,  without 
this  principle  we  would  be  but  little  elevated  above  the 
brute  creation. 

In  order  to  do  him  justice,  as  well  as  the  public,  touch- 
ing his  knowledge  of  the  horse,  and  capacity  to  govern 
him,  it  will  be  necessary  to  go  back  some  forty  years  at 
least,  for  even  in  boyhood  he  is  said  to  have  exhibited 
an  intense  fondness  for  horses,  and  remarkable  aptitude 
for  breaking  and  training  them  after  the  old  fashioned 
way;  and  when  but  a  lad  of  some  dozen  years,  he  would 
drive  or  ride  horses  which  had  foiled  their  masters;  and 
I  have  known  him  many  a  time  when  on  the  road  in  com- 
pany with  others  w^hose  horses  bothered  them  so  they 
could  not  make  them  straighten  their  traces  in  some  bad 
place,  or  up  a  hill,   when,  after  driving  his  own  safely 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  17 

over,  he  would  go  back  and  drive  theirs  over  or  up,  as 
the  case  might  be,  by  only  taking  the  reins  in  his  hands 
and  talking  to  them;  for,  if  the  whip  had  not  already 
been  worn  up  on  them,  he  would  lay  it  aside  and  be 
careful  not  to  let  them  see  it.  And  sometimes,  when  he 
found  it  necessary,  he  might  be  seen  on  the  back  of  one, 
perhaps  whistling  while  they  were  drawing  the  load 
along. 

He  was  the  plow-boy  at  home,  and  was  allowed  to  do 
most  of  the  team  work,  for  he  always  managed  the  horses 
well,  and  did  the  work  up  in  a  farmer-like  manner.  He 
chose  to  go  with  the  team  rather  than  do  anything  else, 
as  this  afforded  him  all  the  sport  he  needed,  aside  from 
the  work  there  was  to  be  done.  I  well  recoilect  dining 
at  his  father's  house  shortly  after  he  had  visited  a  circus. 
The  family  were  in  waiting  for  him,  when  they  were 
startled  by  seeing  the  horses  he  had  been  plowing  with 
coming  at  the  top  of  their  speed  some  fifty  rods  distant, 
and  young  Jim  (not  yet  old  Jim)  standing  straight  up 
with  a  foot  on  the  back  of  each.  As  the  horses  reached 
the  stable,  to  the  joy  of  his  mother  and  others  who  wit- 
nessed the  feat,  he  leaped  from  off  their  backs  unhurt, 
and,  what  was  more  astonishing  to  behold,  there  was 
nothing  on  either  horse  save  the  bare  halters,  the  ends  of. 
which  he  held  in  one  hand  as  they  were  drawn  up  be- 
tween the  necks  of  the  horses. 

I  cannot  forbear  relating  another  feat  of  his  to  which 
I  was  an  eye-witness,  and  which  I  deem  worthy  of  note 
for  its  highly  amusing  character.  It  goes  to  show  that 
he  possessed  remarkable  powers  of  imitation,  combined 


18  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

with  great  rauscular  activity.  This  occurred  in  his  youth- 
ful days,  and  shortly   after  he  had  been  to  see  a  wire- 
dancer  and  tumbler  perform  some  of  his  herculean  feats 
on  the  slack  wire,  such  as  going  through  the  sword  ex- 
ercise, snuffing  the  candle  against  the  wall  with  the  point 
of  his   sword,  &c.     The  boys  had  procured  a  bed  cord 
and  had   it  strung   from  beam  to  girt  of  the  barn  and 
coming  down  near  the  floor  in  the  centre.     After  taking 
the  stretch  well  out  of  it,  he  learned  to  walk,  as  well  as 
to  lay  down  and  get  up  again,  while  swinging  as  far  as 
the  sides  of  the  barn  would  allow.     This  brought  several 
of  the  little  neighbors  to  the  barn  to  see  and  participate 
in  the  play.     On  one  of  these  occasions,  after  quite  a 
number  of  them  had  congregated,  I  walked  in  with  seve- 
ral friends  to  see  the  sport.     Jim,  being  the  champion 
(as  he  thought)  on  the  slack  rope,  without  much  urging, 
took  his  father's  swingle  knife  in  his  hand  for  a  sword, 
and  mounted  cavalry,  as  he  called  it.  After  going  through 
many  surprising  feats,  to  the  delight  and  surprise  of  all 
present,  he  next  came  to  the  sword  exercise,  w^hich  he 
performed  with  great  dexterity,  mimicking  him    of  the 
circus  in  many  of  his  evolutions  and  drolleries,  by  balanc- 
ing it  on  his  chin,  twirling  it  on  his  thumb,  &c.     Then 
came  the  snuffing  of  the  candle,  which  was  only  a  wisp 
of  straw  one  of  the  boys  had  tucked  up  in  a  crack  of  the 
door  as  a  substitute.     Jim,  after  brandishing  the  swingle 
knife  over  his  head  so  as  to  prepare  to  cut  twice  with 
one  motion,  as  he  said,    walked    towards   the    candle, 
making  one  fell  swoop  of  a  blow  al  it,  while  at  the  same 
time  the  rope  flew  out  from  under  his  feet,  laying  Jim, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  19 

neck  and  heels,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  barn  floor, 
and  sending  the  old  swingle  knife  over  the  big  beam  on 
the  hay  mow.  When  he  picked  himself  up  and  got 
through  scratching  his  head,  he  said  that  was  nothing 
but  a  windfall,  but  he  believed  he  had  cut  three  times 
instead  of  twice.  However  that  may  be,  I  think  he  has 
not  gone  through  the  sword  exercise  from  that  day  to 
this.  Thus  ended  that  day's  performance  in  a  roar  of 
laughter.  ' 

At  another  time,  while  calling  on  him  at  his  farm  some 
years  afterwards,  I  was  surprised  on  viewing  his  stock  of 
young  horses.  He  showed  me  eight  splendid  three  year 
old  colts,  two  twoyear  old,  besides  the  working  team  and 
a  sucking  colt  and  its  dam.  These  he  seemed  to  almost 
idolize;  and  it  was  pleasing,  indeed,  to  see  how  fond 
they  appeared  to  be  of  him,  while  they  all  appeared  to 
know  their  respective  names  as  well  as  so  many  boys 
would.  He  had  Texas,  Sampson,  Charley,  Petona,  Snap, 
Sidney,  Donkey,  Minx,  Flora,  Black  Hawk,  &c.,  &c.,  all 
of  which  he  raised  from  colts.  They  would  come  to  him 
from  as  far  off  as  they  could  hear  him  whistle,  and  when 
approaching  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  they  put  one  in 
mind  of  a  caravan  crossing  the  sandy  deserts  of  Arabia. 

He  always  seemed  to  be  very  successful  in  governing 
the  horse  under  almost  any  circumstances;  and  he  has 
passed  through  several  hair-breadth  escapes  unhurt,  owing 
to  his  great  presence  of  mind,  and  capacity  to  control 
the  feelings  of  the  horse  in  moments  of  danger  —  once  in 
particular,  in  attempting  to  ford  the  West  Canada  creek 
where  the  bridge  had  been  carried  away  by  a  freshet. 
But  after  he  became  acquainted  with  the  more  humane 


20  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

system  of  treatment,  which  he  discovered  in  part  himself, 
he  practiced  with  improved  success,  both  in  training  and 
charming  the  horse  (as  it  is  called),  in  learning  it  to 
perform  tricks,  in  obtaining  perfect  control  over  its  pas- 
sions, intellect,  &c.  He  breaks  the  horse  to  suit  his  own 
fancy,  whatever  that  may  happen  to  be,  whether  it  is  to 
step  or  stand  at  the  word,  or  any  other  given  signal. 

He  has  owned  a  great  many  horses,  I  know  not  how 
many,  but  I  should  think  enough  to  tow  all  the  boats  in 
the  Erie  canal  through  from  Troy  to  Buffalo  in  one  day, 
if  I  may  so  speak,  and  they  have  almost  invariably  im- 
proved while  in  his  hands.  Though  he  has  dealt  largely 
at  times,  owning  a  great  number  of  them,  yet  whether  he 
always  dealt  fairly  1  know  not,  still  he  never  had  any 
litiga\ion  w'hatever  in  consequence  of  said  deal,  which  is 
more  than  every  one  can  say. 

A  person  looking  at  the  forest  in  early  fall,  after  the 
leaves  have  been  nipped  by  the  frost,  might  possibly 
number  them;  but  for  me  to  describe  all  the  good  acts  of 
this  man,  in  this  little  narrative  of  his  life,  would  be  as 
hard  a  task  as  to  number  those  leaves  when  they  are  fall- 
ing like  a  shower  of  rain  drops.  He  seemed  to  delight 
in  doing  good,  and  was  content  only  in  doing  what  to  him 
appeared  to  be  his  whole  duty,  which  the  following  work 
will  plainly  show.  But  we  must  not  look  for  perfection 
in  any  man.  His  success  and  ability  to  administer  to  the 
wants  of  the  horse  when  diseased  seems  to  more  than 
equal  that  of  managing  him  in  health.  It  always  pains 
him  to  see  one  in  distress,  and  his  desire  to  alleviate  its 
suffering  seems  to  have  begun  almost  with  his  existence, 
for  when  quite  young,  and  previous  to  his  acquiring  any 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  21 

professional  knowledge,  either  of  disease  or  its  proper 
remedies,  by  study,  he  was  among  the  first  to  discover 
the  difficulty  and  prescribe  for  the  same.  Hence  it  be- 
came a  common  saying  among  those  who  were  immedi- 
ately acquainted  with  him  (and  not  unfrequently  when 
the  disease  had  batfled  the  skill  of  the  experienced)  to 
say,  "  where  is  Jim?  call  him!"  And  in  such  cases  he 
seems  to  have  been  led  by  instinct  (as  it  were),  and  aided 
by  the  most  scrutinizing  observations  and  good  judg- 
ment to  employ  such  remedies  as  were  most  sure  to  effect 
a  cure. 

Encouraged  by  the  success  he  met  with  in  this  branch 
of  his  business,  he  has  been  untiring  in  adding  to  the 
knowledge  he  possessed;  for  he  is  one  of  those  men  who 
never  thought  nor  pretended  that  he  knew  it  all;  and  his 
researches  after  knowledge  and  association  with  profess- 
ional men  have  enabled  him  to  make  many  valuable  dis- 
coveries of  his  own  in  this  science,  besides  bringing  out 
before  the  world  many  things  that  others  had  not  the 
knowledge  to  accomplish.  This  he  has  performed  almost 
regardless  of  the  expense  it  was  to  him,  although  he  had 
not  gained  a  wide-spread  notoriety,  for  the  very  reason 
he  never  made  any  effort  to  do  so,  but  generally  acted  to 
the  reverse  of  what  was  necessary  to  gain  what  he  was 
justly  entitled  to  He  is  a  man  of  few  words  on  this 
subject;  notwithstanding,  whenever  he  saw  one  of  these 
noble  creatures  suffering,  from  whatever  cause  it  might 
be,  he  never  hesitated  to  do  or  tell  others  what  (in  his 
opinion)  was  necessary  to  relieve  them.  Of  this  there 
could  be  found,  along  the  path  he  had  traveled,  a  goodly 


22  BIOGRAPHLCAL    SKETCH. 

number  of  willing  witnesses  that  have  been  profited  by 
his  advire. 

The  work  he  now  offers  to  the  public  for  their  perusal 
and  benefit,  is  one  of  the  great  efforts  he  has  made  to  do 
good  (after  his  physical  strength  had  failed  him),  by 
giving  to  the  world  the  result  of  his  experience,  for  which 
I  hope  he  will  be  justly  compensated.  He  has  lived  to 
witness  the  important  changes  and  inventions  of  about 
one-half  of  the  nineteenth  century,  which  has  been  one  of 
the  most  progressive  ages,  in  many  respects,  on  record. 
And  he  has  not  been  an  idle  looker-on  during  all  this 
time,  but  has  seemed  to  profit  by  the  advantages  offered 
him,  by  cultivation  of  the  mind  and  endeavoring  to  keep 
pace  with  this  age  of  rail  roads,  steam  and  telegraphs. 

That  man  is  the  impression  of  a  superior  power  is  just 
as  evident  to  him  as  the  letters  used  in  forming  the  songs 
of  Zion  were  made  by  the  types  that  preceded  them. 
But  of  his  further  voyage  on  earth  there  is  no  witness 
save  the  Infinite  and  Eternal.  But  we  may  listen  to  what 
the  poet  has  to  say: 

Our  author  delighted  in  music  and  song, 
■  (And  the  music  of  nature  is  surely  not  wrong.) 
From  the  chaunting  of  birds  and  the  humming  of  bees, 
To  the  song  of  the  maid  in  the  shade  of  the  trees. 

The  clarionet's  tone,  and  t^^e  horn  and  the  harp, 
(To  I  anish  bad  spirits  and  leave  a  light  heart), 
Would  revive  him  at  once  for  the  task  of  the  day, 
In  training  his  chargers  for  work  or  for  play. 

The  discoveries  he  made  remain  yet  to  be  told, 
And  can  scarcely  be  measuied  by  silver  or  gold, 
Yet  the  fame  that  is  due  for  such  work  of  the  mind. 
Is  a  debt  that  comes  slow  from  the  most  of  mankind. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  23 

And  the  best  of  all  prophets  was  once  known  to  say 
That  no  prophet  had  honor  at  home,  in  his  <^ay; 
And  therefore  we  must  wait  for  time's  wheel  to  come  'round, 
And  submit  to  that  chance  where  no  better  is  found. 

If  'tis  true  in  all  cases  that  men  get  their  pay 
For  all  trouble,  in  this  life,  as  some  people  ?ay; 
Then,  fate,  please  be  lib'ral  and  help  him  to  a  share 
Of  the  credit  that's  due  for  his  labor  and  care. 


% 


AVERY'S  OWN  FARRIER. 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

Knowledge. — There  have  been,  heretofore,  different 
definitions  given  to  this  word  by  different  persons,  viz: 
•wealth,  power,  &c.  But  suffice  it  to  say  on  the  present 
occasion,  that  knowledge  is  ignorance  met  and  over- 
come. Now  I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  I  have  overcome 
all  that  exists  on  this  important  subject,  for  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  it  is  for  one  man  to  know  all;  neither  do  I 
think  it  is  right  for  us  to  monopolize  all  that  we  may 
learn  of  wisdom's  ways;  or,  in  other  words,  to  keep  as  a 
profound  secret  all  we  may  chance  to  know,  for  our  own 
special  benefit.  But  I  have  often  thought  that  man  ought 
to  do  as  much  as  the  simple  worm  of  the  dust  that  crawls 
along  the  earth,  leaving  his  mark  in  the  sand  wherever 
he  goes.  Thus  we  should  do  all  the  good  we  can  as  we 
pass  along  through  this  world,  and  leave  our  mark*  for 
the  benefit  of  the  race. 

I  have  no  claims  to  scholarship,  therefore  I  make  no 

*  See  verse  at  the  close  of  Hints  to  Purchasers. 

3 


26  avery's  own  fakrier. 

pretensions  of  the  kind.  It  is  my  object  to  be  useful 
rather  tbanto  appear  learned;  and  I  will  offer  to  the  pub- 
lic the  infornQalion  I  possess  on  the  subject  in  question 
in  candor,  and  I  hope  in  a  nisftner  to  be  understood. 

The  art  x)f  healing,  considered  as  a  whole,  is  of  great 
importance  (o  mankind;  and  it  has  long  been  the  custom 
of  many  of  our  professional  men  to  strip  it  of  its  sim- 
plicity and  mystify  everything  pertaining  to  it  as  much 
as  possible.  ^ 

I  have  owned,  in  the  course  of  my  life,  thus  far,  over 
five  hundred  horses,  both  young  and  old,  and  have  never 
lost  but  one  with  any  kind  of  disease  whatever;  many 
of  which  I  have  raised  from  colts,  and  employed  in  most 
kinds  of  business  on,  the  road  and  farm,  having  conse- 
quently often  had  occasion  to  exercise  my  skill  (but  not 
to  boast)  in  doctoring  them  for  almost  every  disease  that 
the  horse  is  liable  to.  For  the  last  thirty  years  I  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  recording  the  symptoms  of  disease 
in  the  horse  as  they  have  transpired  before  me,  together 
with  the  remedies  employed  by  me  and  others  in  curing 
the  same,  which  I  think  will  be  of  use  to  me  (and  others 
hereafter)  in  the  work  now  before  me;  and  it  also  fur- 
nishes me  with  a  catalogue  of  recipes  that  I  have  often 
been  solicited  for;  and  there  is  not  one  of  them  that  I 
ever  knew  to  fail  in  effecting  a  cure  when  properly  ad- 
ministered, for  otherwise  they  would  not  have  found  a 
place  in  the  list.  For  some  years  past,  I  Kave  thought  of 
making  them  public,  but  have  deferred  the  matter  in  or- 
der to  obtain  what  further  information  I  needed,  and  un- 
til 1  was  certain  that  I  was  right,  for  fear  I  might  mis- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  27 

lead  by  my  ignorance,  instead  of  wisely  guiding  by  my 
knowledge.  ^ 

Almost  every  new  discovery  meets  with  opposition 
from  an  incredulous  peopfiif  and  the  consequence  is  that 
many  truths,  long  since  discovered,  have  lain  dormant, 
and  but  for  the  notice  of  some  future  one  perhaps  might 
have  been  lost  to  the  world  forever.  I  know  full  well 
that  truth  was  ever  born  with  many  a  bitter  pang,  and 
most  to  him  who  g^Ve  ^t  birth;  but  that  it  will  out-live 
prejudice,  and  its  claims  be  acknowledged  at  last,  I  could 
never  doubt.  It  cannot  perish,  but  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned it  matters  not  whether  it  is  universally  acknow- 
ledged in  my  day  or  not.  But  at  this  age,  and  upon  this 
particular  subject  especially,  the  claim  to  entire  origin- 
ality must  be  relinquished.  So  far  from  attempting  it, 
I  confess  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  trespass  on  the  lan- 
guage of  others  in  describing  many  diseases  of  the  horse 
and  the  necessary  remedies,  when  I4ind  they  contain  mat- 
ter that  is  useful  for  my  purpose,  which  acknowledgment 
I  hope  will  be  received  in  place  of  marks  of  quotations, 
if  they  should  at  any  time  be  omitted. 

Almost  all  diseases  are  brought  on  by  the  violation  of 
nature's  law  in  some  way  or  other;  and  in  all  cases  of 
disease,  such  remedies  (if  any)  shouhl  be  employed  as 
will  assist  nature  in  performing  her  great  work,  instead 
of  impeding  it;  for  even  the  old  school  of  medicine  has 
discovered  that  nature,  unassisted  by  art,  is  sufficient  to 
cure  many  diseases  even  of  a  violent  character.  Expe- 
riments have  been  made  in  several  cases  to  prove  this 
fact,  with  results  satisfactory  to  all  lovers  of  progress. 
Sleep  and  rest  are  tired  nature's  sweet  restorers. 


28  avery's  own  farrier. 

The  stomach  makes  large  demands  on  the  circulation 
of  the  blood,  for  the  purpose  of  digestion;  and  as  it  and 
the  brain  are  like  two  mills  on  one  stream,  when  one  is 
engaged  to  the  full  extent  of  the  motive  power  the  other 
must  suspend  its  operation.  Therefore,  the  most  favor- 
able time  to  educate  the  spirited  horse  or  learn  him  any 
little  trick  you  might  wish  to  see  him  perform,  is  not 
when  his  stomach  is  overloaded  with  food,  for  then  it  is 
that  the  brain  is  most  inactive  and  liable  to  forget  what 
you  wish  him  to  remember,  neither  would  the  best  time 
be  wh^n  he  was  suffering  from  hunger,  for  that  alone 
would  occupy  too  much  of  his  feeling  to  make  a  favor- 
able impression  in  the  right  direction;  but  a  medium 
betw^een  the  two  might  be  chosen  to  advantage,  say  half- 
way between  meals,  which  should  be  given  him  at  regular 
intervals. 

You  have  looked  at  that  and  probably  had  your  laugh, 
now  look  at  this  and  ponder.  Like  the  mind  or  any- 
thing else,  low  and  groveling  as  well  as  high,  fast  or 
slow,  will  find  its  affinity  as  water  finds  its  level.  Well, 
what  is  faster  or  quicker  than  lightning?  Nothing,  you 
say.  Well,  what  contains  more  electricity  in  the  ani- 
mal kingdom  than  some  kinds  of  hair  ?  This  accounts, 
in  a  certain  degree,  for  the  great  speed  or  velocity  that 
some  of  the  canine  species  are  enabled  to  make,  which 
are  known  to  occupy  considerable  of  their  time  in  lick- 
ing themselves,  and  in  so  doing  fill  all  their  food  in  the 
stomach  with  hair.  The  cause  of  speed  lies  not  in  their 
muscular  power  altogether,  but  for  everything  there  is  a 
time  and  a  purpose. 

I  do  not  wish  to  detract  from   or  claim  any  credit  for 


avery's  own  farrier.  29 

what  others  have  done  who  have  j^one  before  me;  I 
only  ask  for  the  merit  due,  if  any,  for  what  I  may  add 
to  their  })roductions.  With  these  simple  remarks,  which 
may  serve  as  a  key  to  the  following,  I  shall  proceed  to 
the  work  before  me.  And  when  you  have  had  a  chance 
to  see  my  mark,  by  a  fair,  unprejudiced  perusal  of  this 
work,  it  will  be  for  you  to  judge  whether  or  not  I  have 
added  anything  to  the  stock  of  knowledge  you  already 
possess. 


Figure  No.  1, 


on  or  Sfc<»«^ 

e  pti  s  I 'rn 


■i^-^ 


The  J\'ame  and  Situation  of  the  External  Parts  of  the  Horse. 


a\ery's  own  farrier.  ^     31 


CHAPTER  I. 

BRIEF    HISTORY    OF    THE    HORSE. 

Reader^  it  is  not  my  intention  to  give  a  history  of  the 
horse  in  this  little  book,  but  to  inform  you  how  you  may 
cure  it  when  diseased.  Although  a  brief  history,  together 
with  a  few  anecdoies  and  sayings  of  the  men  of  the  old 
world,  may  not  be  deemed  out  of  place,  and  may  be  in- 
teresting to  some,  yet  we  shall  have  to  content  ourselves 
with  such  accounts  as  the  history  of  our  country  affords, 
and  as  I  possess. 

There  are  only  three  kinds  of  these  useful  creatures, 
viz:  the  horse,  the  ass  and  the  zebra.  You  may  raise  a 
cross  breed  from  the  horse  and  ass  (called  the  mule),  but 
you  can  go  no  further. 

The  native  country  of  the  horse  remains  very  obscure, 
and  can  not  with  certainty  be  traced  from  history;  although 
he  has  been  found  running  wild  in  Asia,  Africa,  South 
America,  Western  Prairies,  Rocky  Mountains,  and  doubt- 
Jess  in  many  other  parts  of  the  world. 

Not\\ithstanding,  it  seems  most '  probable  that  he  was 
first  domesticated  in  Egypt,  but  at  what  period  of  time 
it  is  difficult  to  tell;  1920  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ, 
when  Abraham,  having  left  Haran  in  obedience  to  the 
divine  command,  was  driven  into  Egypt  by  the  famine 
which  raged  in  Canaan  (Gen.  xii,  16),  Pharaoh  offered 
him  sheep,  and  oxen,  and  asses,  and  camels.  Horses 
would  doubtless  have  been  added  (with  the  same  gene- 
rous spirit  that  accompanied  this  oifer)  had  they  then  ex- 


32     ^  avery's  own  farrier. 

■  » 

isted,  or  had  they  been  subdued  in  Egypt.  When  fifty 
years  afterwards,  Abraham  journeyed  to  the  mount  Mo- 
riah  to  offer  up  his  only  son,  he  rode  upon  an  ass,  which  I 
think  he  would  surely  not  have  done,  with  all  his  wealth 
and  power,  had  the  horse  been  in  use  at  this  time 
(Gen.  xxii,  3). 

Thirty  years  later,  when  Jacob  returned  to  Isaac  with 
Rachel  and  Leah,  an  account  is  given  (Gen.  xxxii,  14)  of 
the  number  of  oxen,  sheep,  camels,  goats  and  asses,  which 
he  sent  to  appease  the  anger  of  Esau,  but  not  one  horse 
is  mentioned. 

It  was  not  until  twenty-four  years  after  this,  when 
the  famine  devastated  Canaan,  and  Jacob  sent  into 
Egypt  to  buy  corn,  that  horses  and  wagons  were  first 
heard  of.  They  were  then  sent  by  Joseph  into  Canaan 
to  bring  his  father  back  to  Egypt  (Gen.  xlv,  21,  and 
Gen.  xlvii,  17).  It  would  seem,  however,  that  horses  had 
been  but  lately  introduced,  or  not  used  as  beasts  of  bur- 
den, for  the  whole  of  the  corn  which  was  to  be  conveyed 
some  hundreds  of  miles,  and  was  to  afford  sustenance  for 
Jacob's  large  household,  was  carried  on  asses  (Gen. 
xlv,  23). 

Somewhere  about  the  year  1740  before  Christ,  is  the 
period  when  horses  appear  to  have  been  first  used  in 
Egypt.  They  appear,  however,  to  have  rapidly  in- 
creased and  spread  abroad;  for  when  the  Israelites  re- 
turned into  Canaan,  the  Canaanites  went  out  to  fight 
against  Israel,  with  chariots  and  horsemen  very  many. 
The  sacred  volume  seems  therefore  to  decide  the  import- 
ant point,  that  the  first  domestication  of  the  horse  was  in 


avery's  own  farrier.  33 

Egypt.  It  also  decides  another  point,  that  Arabia,  by 
whose  breed  of  horses  those  of  other  countries  have  been 
so  much  improvred,  was  not  the  native  place  of  the  horse; 
for  six  hundred  years  after  the  time  just  referred  to,there 
were  no  horses  in  Arabia. 

Solomon  imported  silver,  gold  and  spices,  from 
Arabia  (2  Chron.  ix,  14),  but  all  the  horses  for  his  own 
cavalry  and  chariots,  he  procured  from  Egypt  (2  Chron, 
i,  17).  In  this  place  it  is  mentioned  that  a  horse  brought 
from  Egypt  cost  150  shekels  of  silver,  which  amounts  to 
something  over  seventeen  pounds  sterling,  or  a  little  over 
eighty-five  dollars,  American  currency;  which  was  con- 
sidered an  enormous  sum  for  those  days. 

A  writer  (Goodrich,  if  I  mistake  not)  thus  says,  ''  that 
horse  of  Arabia  and  the  southern  parts  of  Europe,  are 
clearly  derived  from  Egypt;  but  whether  they  were  bred 
there  or  imported  from  the  southwestern  regions  of  Asia, 
or,  as  is  more  probably  the  case,  brought  from  the  inte- 
rior or  northern  coasts  of  Africa,  can  not  with  certainty 
be  determined." 

The  first  horse-race,  of  which  we  have  any  account, 
dates  back  to  Greece,  eight  hundred  and  eighty-four 
years  before  Christ.  The  first  trotting  park  on  record 
was  in  Italy, built  by  Tarquinius  Prisons.  According  to 
Pliny,  it  was  oblong,  three  and  a  half  furlongs  long,  and 
had  rows  of  seats  all  around,  raised  one  above  the  other, 
suflScient  to  accommodate  300,000  persons.  A  race 
usually  consisted  of  seven  rounds,  equal  to  seven  or  eight 
miles.  Competitors  in  these  games  were  disciplined  for 
ten    months  previous.     The    honor  of  having  gained  a 


34  avery's  own  farrier. 

victory  then  was  very  great;  i(  extenrled  from  the  victor 
to  his  country,  which  was  proud  to  own  him.  So  much 
then  for  the  Olympic  games,  &c. 

For  me  to  undertake  to  trace  the  pedigree  of  any  of 
our  valuable  horses  at  this  day,  back  to  the  original  stock 
of  imported  horses,  viz:  the  Eclipse,  the  Barb,  the  Fly- 
ing Childers,  the  Derby  or  Wellesley  i\iabian,"the  Snap, 
Sampson,  the  Race  horse,  the  Hunter,  &c  ,  with  a  host 
of  others,  is  more  than  useless. 

Although  we  have  the  Morgans,  the  Black  Hawks, 
and  some  fine  importations  in  this  country,  we  may  well 
challenge  all  other  nations  of  the  earth  for  a  good  breed 
of  horses.  Proper  for  all  uses,  we  have  them  from  eight 
to  eighteen  hands  high,  and  some  as  heavy  as  any  in  the 
world.  Some  are  calculated  for  draft,  or  drudgery,  and 
some  for  swiftness;  we  have  them  suitable  for  all  the 
various  wants  we  may  require  of  them.  We  have  almost 
an  endless  variety  of  breeds.  The  earliest  history,  how- 
ever, of  the  horse,  gives  us  an  account  of  but  very  few ;  and 
I  am  not  certain  but  they  were  all  derived  from  one — that 
is,  the  ass  or  zebra,  for  we  have  their  record  first.  An- 
cient writers  recognize  three  or  four  distinct  varieties  of 
the  ass,  viz:  Paru,  Chamor,  Aton  and  Orud  (see  Natural 
History  of  the  Bible,  by  Thaddeus  Mason  Harris,  by  Wells 
&  Lilly,  Boston). 

We  learn  also  from  history  that  all  the  dififerent  varie- 
ties of  the  apple  we  have  at  this  day — and  which  af- 
fords one  of  the  greatest  luxuries  to  mankind  —  were  all 
derived  from  one  parent  stock,  viz:  the  little  crab  apple 
(as  it  is  called),  of  which  there  is  very  little  use  made 


avery's  own  farrier.  35 

now.*  Then  why  is  it  any  more  improbable  that  the 
horse,  or  the  different  varieties  thereof,  were  all  derived 
from  one  parent  stock,  than  to  suppose  that  all  the  differ- 
ent species  of  the  human  race,  with  all  the  difference  in 
color,  shape  and  stature,  had  their  origin  in  Adam  and 
Eve. 

The  horse  has  been  found  running  wild  in  many  parts 
of  the  world,  but  always  dwarfish  in  size;  and  the  na- 
tives, or  red  men  of  the  forest,  for  a  great  length  of 
time,  knew  no  other  use  of  him  than  to  eat  his  flesh;  but 
in  more  civilized  countries  the  horse  becomes  more  tract- 
able, and  there  and  no  where  else  has  its  real  value  come 
to  be  practically  understood. 

I  might  write  enough  to  fill  a  volume,  but  as  I  intended 
to  be  brief  on  this  subject,  and  for  fear  I  might  tire  the 
patience  of  the  reader,  I  will  close  this  part  of  the  history. 

The  Horse  is  of  Great  Utility  to  Man, 

According  to  his  known  history  he  has  been  the  friend 
and  servant  of  man  for  nearly  four  thousand  years;  all 
classes  of  people,  from  the  highest  rulers  and  warriors, 

*The  transformations  wrought  by  horticulturists  and  pomologists 
are  all  but  incredible.  Peaches  were  originally  poisonous  alnaonds, 
and  useJ  to  impregnate  arrows  with  deadly  venom.  Cherries  are  de- 
rived from  a  berry  of  which  a  single  one  only  grew  on  a  stenn.  Nec- 
tarines and  apricots  are  hybrids  of  the  plum  and  peacb.  The  chief 
esculents,  with  its  relatives,  broccoli  and  cauliflower,  come  fr.im  a 
marine  plant  —  the  common  sea-kale,  which  shoots  up  on  some  sandy 
shores.  From  wild,  sour  crabs,  scarcely  larger  than  boys'  marbles, 
have  proceeded  all  va'ieties  of  apples.  The  largest  and  richest  of 
plums  are  descendants  of  the  black  thorn's  bitter  sloe.  Such  are  mere 
specimens  of  vegetable  metamorphoses,  brought  t;bout  by  transplant- 
ing, acclimating,  crossing  and  culture. — Patent   Office  Report^  1849. 


36  avery's  own  farrier. 

down  to  the  lowest  peasants  on  earth,  have  shared  their 
friendship  and  utility.  The  horse  has  also  had  its  ad- 
mirers and  friends  among  all  classes  of  men;  even  ihe 
poor  Arab  treats  him  as  one  of  his  own  family,  by  lodg- 
ing him  in  the  tent  with  his  wife  and  children.  And 
yet  his  education  is  only  in  its  infancy. 

His  value  has  been  so  estimated  from  his  first  subjuga- 
tion to  the  present,  that  a  portion  at  least  of  all  civilized 
nations,  as  well  as  the  Indian  who  catches  him  wild, 
have  participated  in  the  pleasure  and  profits  of  the  horse. 
And  his  value  at  the  present  time  depends,  to  a  great 
extent,  on  the  knowledge  and  skill  we  possess  in  using 
him;  for  when  we  call  out  the  finer  feelings  of  his  nature 
by  kind  treatment,  we  are  delighted  and  comforted  in  the 
manner  and  willingness  in  which  he  renders  his  services 
for  our  benefit;  while  to  those  who  know  no  other  way 
of  governing  him  than  by  brute  force,  he  often  becomes 
fretful  and  vicious,  and  even  a  dangerous  servant;  con- 
sequently  we  see  that  his  real  value  to  us  rises  or  falls, 
according  to  our  ability  and  manner  of  governing  him. 

He  has  been  imported  and  transported  from  nation  to 
nation;  he  is  used  to  do  our  hardest  drudgery,  as  well  as 
to  pride  himself  in  honoring  kings;  he  is  used  to  convey 
us  to  places  of  amusement  and  worship;  in  fact  there  is 
no  avocation  in  which  man  is  engaged  that  the  horse  is 
not  made  useful  to  further  his  purpose.  And  in  all  places, 
and  among  all  classes,  we  find  his  value  corresponding 
with  the  state  of  society  where  he  is  employed.  And 
here  is  another  idea  about  the  horse  which  is  worth  its 
weight  in  gold,  viz:  his  cultivation  and  improvement 
have   a   tendency  to  promote  good  society.     For   man, 


Avery's  own  farrier.  37 

while  cultivating  the  finer  feelings  of  his  nature  (as  he 
must,  in  order  to  control  the  horse  properly),  arrives  to 
that  degree  of  refinement  in  his  mind  which  is  so  neces- 
sary for  a  member  of  good  society  to  possess. 

I  have  known  men  to  buy  a  pair  of  horses,  paying 
from  three  to  four  hundred  dollars  for  them,  which  was 
considered  by  many  an  enormous  price.  The  purchaser, 
after  keeping  them  a  few  months,  would  sell  them  again 
for  double  the  price  he  paid,  to  the  astonishment  of  those 
who  considered  the  first  price  extravagant.  This  may  be 
attributable  to  the  knowledge  of  the  dealer  of  the  market, 
and  his  skill  in  training  and  improving  their  condition 
while  they  remained  in  his  hands.  So  we  see,  too,  that 
the  study  of  the  horse  is  calculated  to  elevate  the  mind 
of  man,  as  well  as  to  replenish  his  purse. 

How  offen  do  we  see  young  men  whose  almost  first 
act  in  life  is  to  buy  a  horse,  and  sometimes  before  they 
are  able  to  pay  the  purchase  money;  and  even  part  with 
the  last  cow  and  every  other  valuable  before  they  will 
part  with  their  horse.  This  shows  the  great  attachment 
man  has  for  the  horse,  which  can  be  traced  back  through 
history  to  the  ancient  nobleman,  as  well  as  the  wild  Arab. 
This  will  be  made  more  apparent  hereafter. 

*'  Soon  after  the  time  of  Alfred  the  Great,  or  about 
A.  D.  one  thousand,  it  was  decreed"  (and  from  this 
something  may  be  gathered  of  the  relative  value  of  the 
horse  at  that  time)  that  if  a  horse  was  lost,  or  negli- 
gently destroyed,  the  compensation  should  be  thirty  shil- 
lings; a  mare  or  colt,  twenty  shillings.  About  this  time 
laws  were  passed  which  fixed  the  price  of  a  foal  at  four- 
pence;  at  one  year  and  a  day  old,  at  forty-eight  pence; 

4 


y 


38  avery's  own  farrier. 

after  which  time  it  was  to  be  broken  and  trained  for  the 
saddle  or  harness,  when  it  was  estimated  at  one  hundred 
and  twenty  pence. 

In  those  days  the  purchaser  was  allowed  time  to  as- 
certain whether  the  horse  was  free  from  three  diseases, 
viz:  He  had  three  days  to  prove  him  for  the  staggers; 
three  months  to  prove  the  soundness  of  his  lungs,  and 
one  year  to  ascertain  whether  he  was  infected  with  the 
glanders.  And  for  every  blemish  discovered  after  the 
purchase,  one-third  of  the  money  w^as  to  be  refunded, 
unless  it  proved  to  be  a  blemish  of  the  ears  or  tail. — E?i- 
cyclopedia. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  VIII,  an  English  treatise  on 
the  management  of  the  horse  was  written  by  Sir  A. 
Fitzherbert,  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  which 
was  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  written.  The  learned  judge 
wrote  thus:  "  Thou  grasyer,  thou  may  est  fortune  to  be 
myne  opinion  or  condytion  to  love  horses,  and  young 
coltes  and  foles  and  go  among  these;  take  heed  that  thou 
be  not  beguyled  as  I  have  been  an  hundred  tymes  or 
more.  And  first,  ihou  shalt  know  that  a  good  horse  has 
54  properties,  viz:  2  of  a  man,  2  of  a  badger,  4  of  a 
lion,  9  of  an  ox,  9  of  a  hare,  9  of  a  fox,  9  of  an  ass, 
and  10  of  a  woman." 

Later  writers,  in  pirating  from  Sir  A.,  have  given  the 
following  description  of  the  horse,  which  is  well  known 
to  approximate  the  truth,  viz:  "A  good  horse  should  have 
three  qualities  of  a  woman;  a  broad  breast,  round  hips 
and  a  long  mane — three  of  a  lion;  countenance,  courage 
and  fire — three  of  a  bullock;  the  eye,  nostrils  and  joints — 
three  of  a  sheep;  the  nose,  gentleness  and  patience — three 


avery's  own  farrier.  39 

of  a  mule;  strength,  constancy  and  foot — three  of  a 
deer;  head,  legs  and  short  hair — three  of  a  wolf;  throat, 
neck  and  hearing— three  of  a  fox;  ear,  tail  and  trot — 
three  of  a  serpent;  memory,  sight  and  turning — and  three 
of  a  hare  or  cat;  running,  walking  or  suppleness." 

I  now  give  place  to  the  following  anecdotes  (which 
are  well  authenticated),  partly  to  show  the  love  and 
great  attachment  of  the  Arab  (as  well  as  others)  for  the 
horse,  as  well  as  that  of  the  horse  for  his  master. 

Among  all  the  studs*  kept  by  the  ancient  noblemen, 
you  A\ill  find  that  there  was  scarcely  ever  one  found 
which  was  not  kind  and  submissive  to  his  master;  the 
reason  of  this  was  because  their  mode  of  governing 
them  was  invariably  that  of  kind  treatment.  The  pas- 
sion of  love,  in  all  animals,  when  cultivated  and  fully 
developed,  is  even  stronger  than  that  of  fear. 

When  the  Arab  falls  from  his  mare  (observes  Smith 
on  breeding),  and  is  unable  to  rise,  she  will  stop  and 
neigh  until  assistance  arrives;  if  he  lies  down  to  sleep, 
as  fatigue  sometimes  compels  him,  in  the  midst  of  the 
desert,  she  stands  watchful  over  him,  and  neighs  and 
arouses  him  if  either  man  or  beast  approaches. 

An  old  Arab  had  a  valuable  mare  that  had  carried  him 
for  fifteen  years  in  many  a  hard  fought  battle,  and  in 
many  a  rapid,  weary  march.  Although  eighty  years 
old,  and  unable  longer  to  ride  her,  he  gave  her  and  a 
scimetar  that  had  been  his  father's,  to  his  eldest  son,  and 
told  him  to  appreciate  their  value,  and  never  lie  down  to 
rest  unti^  he  had  rubbed  them  both  as  bright  as  a  look- 

*  A  collection  of  horses. 


40  -  avery's  own  farrier. 

ing-glass.  In  the  first  skirmish  that  the  young  man  was 
engaged  in,  he  was  killed,  and  the  mare  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  When  the  news  reached  the  old 
man,  he  exclaimed,  *'  Life  is  no  longer  worth  preserving, 
for  I  have  lost  both  my  son  and  mare,  and  I  grieve  as 
much  for  one  as  the  other;"  and  he  immediately  sick- 
ened and  died. 

The  follciwing  comes  home  to  the  bosom  of  every  one 
possessed  of  common  feeling.  The  whole  stock  of  an 
Arab  of  the  desert  consisted  of  a  mare.  The  French 
consul  offered  to  purchase  her  in  order  to  send  her  to  his 
sovereign,  Louis  XIV.  The  Arab  would  have  rejected 
the  proposal  at  once  with  indignation  and  scorn,  but  he 
was  miserably  poor.  He  had  no  means  of  supplying  his 
most  urgent  wants  or  procuring  the  barest  necessaries  of 
life.  Still  he  hesitated;  he  had  scarcely  a  rag  to  cover 
him,  and  his  wife  and  children  were  starving;  the  sum 
offered  was  great;  it  would  provide  him  and  his  family 
with  food  for  life.  At  length,  and  reluctantly,  he  con- 
sented to  the  separation.  He  brought  the  mare  to  the 
dwelling  of  the  consul;  he  dismounted  and  stood  leaning 
upon  her;  he  looked  now  at  the  gold,  and  then  at  his 
favorite;  he  sighed,  he  wept.  "  To  whom  is  it,"  said  he, 
"  I  am  going  to  yield  thee  up?  To  Europeans,  who  will 
tie  thee  close  —  who  will  beat  thee — who  will  render 
thee  miserable!  Return  with  me  my  beauty,  my  jewel; 
God  preserve  ihee,  my  beloved;  and  rejoice  the  hearts  of 
my  children  " —  and  then  sprang  upon  her  back,  and  was 
out  of  sight  in  a  moment.  Ah,  jockey,  think  of  this; 
did  you  ever  part  with  a  favorite  that  caused  your  wife 
and  children  to  weep? 


Avery's  own  farrier.  41 

Sir  John  Malcom,  in  his  Sketches  on  Persia,  gives 
several  anecdotes,  but  of  a  more  amusing  character,  one 
of  which  we  will  notice  here.  "  When  the  envoy,  return- 
ing from  his  former  mission,  was  encamped  near  Bagdad, 
an  old  Arab  rode  a  bright  bay  mare,  of  extraordinary 
shape  and  beauty,  before  his  tent,  until  he  attracted  his 
attention.  On  being  asked  if  he  would  sell  her,  '  What 
will  you  give  me  V  was  the  reply;  *  That  depends  upon 
her  age;  I  suppose  she  is  past  five?'  '  Guess  again,'  said 
he;  'Four?'  '  Look  at  her  mouth,'  said*  the  Arab  with 
a  smile.  On  examination  she  was  found  to  be  rising 
three.  This,  from  her  size  and  symmetry,  greatly  en- 
hanced her  value.  The  envoy  said,  '  I  will  give  you 
fifty  tomans  (a  coin  nearly  equal  in  value  to  a  pound 
sterling);'  *  A  little  more  if  you  please,'  said  the  fel- 
low, apparently  entertained;  'eighty,  a  hundred;'  he 
shook  his  head  and  smiled.  The  offer  at  last  came  to 
two  hundred  tomans.  '  Well,'  said  the  Arab,  '  you 
need  not  tempt  me  further;  it  is  of  no  use.  You  are  a 
rich  elchee;  you  have  fine  horses,  camels  and  mules,  and 
I  am  toljd  you  have  loads  of  silver  and  gold.  Now,' 
added  he,  '  you  want  my  mare,  but  you  shall  not  have 
her  for  all  you  have  got.'  " 


42  avery's  own  farrier. 


CHAPTER  II. 

It  is  not  absolutely  necessary  that  a  man  should  under- 
stand physiology,  or  even  anatomy,  to  be  a  pretty  good 
horse  doctor;  but  he  should  become  acquainted  with  the 
nature  of  barks,  buds,  leaves,  gums,  and  minerals,  and 
understand  their  medicinal  properties,  before  he  pretends 
to  know  how  to  cure  disease.  It  is  safest  and  best  to 
gather  your  own  roots  and  vegetables  for  medicinal  pur- 
poses, when  convenient,  for  which  directions  will  be 
found  hereafter.  Apothecaries  are  not  always  to  be  de- 
pended on;  therefore  when  you  buy  medicine  it  is  better 
to  buy  it  in  the  natural  state  and  pulverize  it  yourself, 
to  avoid  being  imposed  upon  by  adulterated  drugs. 

How  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  Horse. — It  may 
be  proper  to  state  here  that  stables  should  be  comfortably 
warm;  and  another  thing  of  some  importance  is  good 
ventilation.  When  this  is  not  attended  to,  the  air  is  im- 
pregnated, not  only  with  the  emanations  from  the  body, 
but  with  the  gases  that  arise  from  the  excrements. 
Light  is  also  very  essential;  many  a  horse  has  lost  his 
sight  from  being  kept  in  dark  stables.  Stables  are  gene- 
rally too  small;  horses  are  often  too  much  crowded,  so 
much  so  as  to  make  it  extremely  uncomfortable  for  them. 
It  is  better  to  have  the  stalls  five  feet  w^ide,  than  only 
four,  for  they  are  often  strained  and  otherwise  injured  by 
trying  to  get  up  in  too  narrow  stalls.  The  horse  requires 
a  variety  of  food,  as  well  as  man;  of  which  carrots  and 
other  roots  afford  an  essential  part,  as  they  are  of  a  very 
cooling  and  succulent  nature. 


avery's  own  farrier.  43 

"When  you  have  a  horse  diseased  in  any  way,  treat  him 
accordingly;  but  when  you  have  one  that  is  lean  in  flesh, 
and  looks  jaded,  and  coat  stares,  without  any  local 
disease,  only  been  worked  hard,  and  his  fare  still  harder, 
and  wish  to  improve  his  condition  (or  fat  him),  if  kept 
up  to  dry  food,  give  him  in  his  food  a  spoonful  of  flour 
of  sulphur  three  times  a  week;  and  if  he  is  a  very  hearty 
eater  (as  they  are  quite  apt  to  be,  in  this  condition),  I 
should  not  object  to  adding  to  the  above  as  much  black 
antimony  as  would  lay  on  a  ten  cent  piece,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  nauseating  him  a  little;  after  which,  twice  or 
three  times  a  week,  give  a  little  of  the  bark  of  sassafras, 
W'ell  pulverized,  and  a  teaspoonful  of  ginger.  This  gives 
tone  and  action  to  the  stomach,  and  is  good  to  purity  the 
blood;  if  you  should  think  proper  to  bleed,  do  it  but 
sparingly;  if  you  feed  Indian  meal,  make  it  into  pudding 
(by  scalding),  and  add  a  handful  of  oil  meal.  This  gives 
him  a  very  sleek  coat.  If  oats  are  to  be  his  food,  add  one- 
third  as  much  wheat  bran;  give  him  plenty  of  exercise, 
and  let  his  hay  or  straw  be  clean;  you  should  begin  with 
small  feeds  of  grain,  and  increase  by  degrees. 

As  a  natural  result,  from  the  efl'ects  of  colds,  fevers, 
and  hard  fare,  the  impurities  of  the  blood  concentrate  in 
the  urine,  causing  the  gelding  to  become  foul  in  the  sheath 
and  yard.  It  is  necessary  to  clean  those  parts,  which  may 
be  done  with  warm  water  and  hard  soap,  and  followed 
by  a  little  sweet  oil  or  lard,  for  the  horse  cannot  thrive 
well  when  foul;  consequently  it  becomes  one  of  the  first 
things  to  be  looked  after  in  a  horse  that  you  wish  to  fat- 
ten. If  his  appetite  is  not  good,  take  a  piece  of  asa- 
fcetida,  the  size  of  a  chestnut,  and  tie  it  on  his  bit,  or  in 


44  avery's  own  farrier. 

the  bottom  of  the  box  where  he  eats  his  grain,  with  a 
clean  linen  rag.  A  free  use  of  the  card  and  brush,  with 
a  good  bed,  is  also  indispensable.  By  following  these 
directions  you  will  be  likely  to  succeed  belter  than  you 
will  with  turmeric,  or  colored  pea  flour,  for  it  is  seldom 
anything  more,  and  is  fit  only  to  give  that  yellow  color 
to  medicines  that  they  have  long  been  accustomed  to.  A. 
few  seeds  or  drops  of  the  oil  of  annis,  to  scent  medicines, 
may  do  no  harm.  But  aside  from  this,  you  can  dispense 
with  the  bayberries,  cardamon,  coriander,  diapente,  fen- 
nel, fenugreek  seeds,  grains  of  paradise,  horse-spice,  and 
various  others,  which  only  encumber  the  shelves,  and 
load  the  drinks  of  him  of  the  old  school,  and  should  be 
banished  from  a  rational  farrier's  prescription.* 

A  horse  may  be  fattened  much  cheaper  when  he  runs 
out  to  grass  than  when  kept  upon  dry  food,  for  it  requires 
less  grain,  and  he  will  exercise  himself,  and  needs  no 
medicine,  allowing  the  flies  do  not  annoy  him,  in  which 
case  he  will  do  better  to  be  tied  in  the  stable  during  the 
day  time,  and  letting  him  run  out  nights.  When  kept  up, 
green  clover  and  green  carrot  tops  are  very  beneficial, 
being  a  good  substitute  for  the  pasture.  He  should  al- 
ways have  clay  and  salt  within  his  reach,  and  be  allowed 
to  lick  what  he  pleases  of  it;  and  it  is  not  unfiequently 
that  this  is  the  only  alterative  course  needed.  - 

*  For  further  particulars,  see  Condition  Powders,  how  made,  in 
No.  1,  Recipes,  &c.,  &c. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  45 


CHAPTER  III. 

A    COLD. 

*'  It  is  not  what  people  read  that  makes  them  learned,  but 
what  they  remember." 

Young  horses  are  most  liable  to  take  cold,  although 
old  ones  are  not  exempt,  and  people  are  apt  to  look  upon 
it  wiih  indifference;  but  there  are  few  diseases  incident 
to  the  horse,  which  do  not  more  or  less  derive  their 
origin  from  a  cold.  The  causes  are  various,  but  the  most 
common  ones  are  that  of  driving  them  until  they  are 
warm  and  sweaty,  and  then  allowing  them  to  stand  still 
where  they  are  exposed  to  the  cold  air  and  wind.  If 
they  do  not  take  a  severe  cold  which  settles  on  the  lungs, 
it  not  unfrequently  produces  what  is  worse  (in  the  hands 
of  some),  viz:  founder.  Removing  them  from  hot 
stables  to  cold  ones,  often  causes  them  to  take  cold,  and 
if  they  have  been  high  fed  and  clothed  warm,  the  cold 
contracted  in  this  way  often  proves  very  violent.  This 
is  the  reason  why  horses  so  often  catch  a  severe  cold  on 
their  fiist  coming  out  of  the  dealer's  hands,  or  changing 
masters;  they  neglect  to  rub  him  until  he  is  dry,  or 
nearly  so,  before  putting  on  his  blanket,  as  they  should, 
after  driving  him  until  he  is  warm  and  sweaty. 

Symptoms. — When  a  horse  has  taken  cold,  he  will  be 
heavy  and  dull  in  proportion  to  the  severity  of  the  dis- 
ease; his  eyes  will  be  watery,  and  after  a  day  or  two  he 
will  run  at  the  nose  (a  thin  mucous  gleet)  if  the  cold  be 


46  avery's  own  farrier. 

violent;  he  will  refuse  his  food  and  be  troubled  with  dif- 
ficult breathing,  and  a  cough  will  ensue.  When  a  horse 
has  a  cold  like  this,  his  stomach  becomes  inactive,  cold, 
and  is  filled,  as  well  as  the  intestines,  with  canker, 
whereby  the  digestive  powers  are  impaired,  and  he  be- 
comes languid  and  dull,  in  proportion  to  the  severity  of 
the  cold.  Now  the  internal  or  vital  heat  is  diminished, 
the  skin  becomes  dry  and  husky,  and  fever  begins  by 
reason  of  the  cold,  for  heat  promotes  life,  and  cold, 
death.  Remove  the  cause  by  increasing  the  internal 
heat,  until  the  stomach  is  clear  of  this  canker,  and  you 
cause  a  free  perspiration.  Then  the  natural  heat  of  the 
body  is  sufficient  to  do  the  rest,  and  nature  will  jog  on 
as  before  anything  happened  to  your  horse.  The  most 
common  practice  in  the  case  of  colds,  with  a  majority  of 
farriers,  has  been  to  bleed.  Now  this,  in  my  opinion,  is 
very  wrong. 

When  farmers  first  turn  out  to  pasture,  as  they  gener- 
ally do  in  the  morning,  their  horses  sometimes  contract 
colds  by  feeding  through  the  day  and  lying  down  at 
night,  that  bring  on  other  diseases,  that  return  with 
them  to  the  stable  after  grazing,  some  months.  As  a 
preventive,  I  would  recommend  turning  them  in  pasture 
at  evening,  then  they  will  feed  throughout  the  night  and 
lie  down  to  rest  at  day  time,  and  not  be  so  likely  to  take 
cold  on  their  first  being  turned  out  to  pasture.* 

*  After  shedding  the  coat,  or  moulting,  in  the  spring  of  the  year, 
as  they  do,  and  especially  if  they  are  poorly  clothed  with  flesh,  they 
are  but  illy  protected  against  the  cold  storms  we  often  experience  in 
this  northern  latitude,  and  had  better  be  sheltered  a  few  nights,  or 
during  these  storms,  than  to  run  the  risk  of  letting  them  run  out. 


J- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  47 

Cure. — There  are  many  things  Ihat  are  good  for  a 
cold,  but  I  shall  only  mention  here  those  I  conceive  to  be 
the  best.  After  clothing  the  horse  warmly,  take  a  tea- 
spoon full  of  cayenne  pepper  (for  this  contains  the  heat 
the  longest)  and  put  it  into  a  quart  of  warm  water,  and 
give  it  to  him,  sweetened  if  you  choose.  Repeat  once 
in  two  hours  until  it  produces  the  desired  effect,  not 
neglecting  to  rub  his  limbs  and  body  briskly.  Then  give 
him  a  moderate  dose  of  aloes  for  physic,  this  will  assist 
nature  in  cleansing  the  stomach  and  bowels  of  the  canker. 
After  the  operation  of  the  physic,  it  is  well  to  give  a 
spoon  full  of  ginger  once  or  twice  a  day  in  his  food  or 
drink,  for  a  short  time,  to  assist  in  keeping  up  the 
natural  heat.  For  want  of  the  cayenne,  use  half  a  gill 
of  the  hot  drops,  a  recipe  for  which  may  be  found  in  the 
list  of  medicines.  A  drench  of  sage  or  canker  tea,  will 
prove  beneficial  in  this,  as  well  as  in  many  diseases  of 
the  horse. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

CATARRH,    ASTHMA    AND    COUGH. 
Long  and  bitter  are  the  days  that  are  counted  by  throbbing  pain. 

There  seems  to  be  no  end  to  the  catalogue  of  diseases 
of  the  horse,  under  their  present  classification,  and  per- 
haps none  have  given  rise  to  more  perplexity  among  far- 
riers, than  the  above  complaints,  which  are  brought  on 
by  a  neglected  cold,  or  one  of  long  standing,  and  are 
attended  with  nearly  the  same  symptoms  as  a  cold,  as 


48  avery's  own  farrier. 

described  in  the  preceding  chapter,  Although  there  is 
this  difference,  in  cases  of  catarrh,  by  holding  your  ear 
near  the  nostrils,  and  sometimes  at  a  considerable  distance, 
you  will  hear  a  rattling  or  gurgling  sound  in  the  head  and 
throat,  the  flanks  work  more,  while  the  horse  appears  to 
be  in  great  distress  at  times,  and  will  throw  out  of  the 
nose  and  mouth  chunks  of  white,  tough  phlegm,  that 
frequently  appear  while  he  is  in  the  act  of  drinking, 
with  his  head  down,  which  relieves  him  very  much  for  a 
time.  A  settled  cough,  alone,  has  given  more  perplexity 
than  any  other  one  disorder  of  the  horse,  and  in  fact  it 
has  often  defied  all  attempts  of  art,  and  baffled  the  skill 
of  the  most  experienced,  and  the  horse  has  frequently 
become  asthmatical  or  broken  winded,  in  spite  of  all 
their  efforts  to  the  contrary.  Sometimes  it  is  owing  to 
pleurisies  or  malignant  fevers,  which  have  left  a  taint  on 
the  lungs  or  other  vessels;  sometimes  to  small  eruptions 
in  the  glands,  which  cause  the  lungs  to  enlarge,  and  a 
quantity  of  tough  phlegm  and  mucilaginous  juices  to 
stuff  up  the  glands  and  branches  of  the  wind  pipe,  and 
sometimes  to  fleshy  substances  engendered  in  the  large 
blood-vessels,  for  all  these  things  hinder  a  free  respira- 
tion and  excite  a  cough. 

It  is  very  difficult,  sometimes,  to  determine  what  kind 
of  a  cough  you  have  to  contend  with,  which  makes  the 
cure  more  difficult  and  uncertain.  If  the  cough  be  of 
long  standing,  attended  with  loss  of  appetite  and  flesh, 
and  a  general  weakness,  it  denotes  consumption,  and  that 
the  lungs  are  full  of  tubercles.  When  the  cough  pro- 
ceeds from  phlegm  and  mucilaginous  matter,  stuffing  up 
the  vessels  of  the  lungs,  the  flanks  have  a  sudden,  quick 


avery's  own  farrier.  49 

motion,  the  horse  breathes  thick,  but  not  with  his  nostrils 
distended,  like  one  that  is  broken-winded.  Sometimes 
the  cough  will  appear  to  be  moist,  and  at  others  dry  and 
husky. 

In  cases  where  the  catarrh  appears  to  predominate,  I 
would  recommend  for  the  cure,  especially  if  the  cough 
is  dry  and  husky,  to  clothe  the  neck  and  head  well,  and 
give  a  dose  of  the  cayenne  pepper  tea,  or  hot  drops, 
every  other  morning,  and  every  day  between,  give  a 
teaspoonfuU  of  the  oil  of  tar  (well  mixed),  with  two 
ounces  of  brown  sugar  (this  will  cut  the  oil),  adding 
nearly  a  quart  of  warm  water;  stir  well,  and  horn  the 
whole  down  the  horse;  and  also,  every  day,  steam  his 
head  by  throwing  a  blanket  over  it,  and  holding  his 
head  over  a  box  that  contains  a  hot  stone,  and  pour  on 
to  the  stone  vinegar  or  pepper  sauce;  continue  this  four 
days.  When  he  has  had  two  doses  of  each,  and  has 
been  steamed  four  times,  hold  on  two  or  three  days.  It 
will  be  well  to  give,  during  the  time,  a  handful  of  oil 
meal  in  his  food,  if  at  hand,  or  a  plenty  of  wheat  bran 
will  do,  for  his  food  should  be  light  and  easy  to  digest 
(roots  would  not  be  amiss).  After  this  fasting  and  medi- 
cine, repeat  the  pepper  tea  as  before,  and  if  there  is  any 
cough,  in  lieu  of  the  oil  of  tar,  give  him  half  a  pint  of 
onion  juice  sweetened  with  loaf  sugar,  adding  a  little 
liquorice,  and  also  grate  into  this  drink  a  little  skunk  or 
wild  cabbage  root  (previously  dried,  &c).  If  the  cough 
should  be  obstinate  after  the  first  course  of  medicine, 
bleed  twice  in  a  week  (sparingly),  but  not  otherwise. 
If  he  should  be  any  ways  costive,  his  bowels  should  be 
kept  open  by  mild  physic — flour  of  sulphur  for  instance, 


50  avery's  own  farrier. 

in  small  doses.  If  the  above  is  persevered  in,  it  is  a 
certain  cure.  I  never  knew  it  to  fail  to  cure  the  worst 
of  chronic  coughs.  When  the  wild  cabbage  can  not  be 
obtained,  you  may  use  the  lobelia  seed,  as  a  substitute, 
with  good  success.  As  a  preventive  from  its  running 
into  glanders,  use  the  ointment  on  the  membrane  of  the 
nose,  given  under  that  head,  and  it  will  also  aid  in  cur- 
ing this. 


CHAPTER  V. 

LUNG    FEVER. 

"  It  has  been  remarked,  and,  in  truth  it  will  apply  to  all  latitudes 
and  meridians,  and  to  all  countries,  tropical  and  frigid,  savage 
and  civilized,  that  it  is  not  what  men  get  that  makes  them  rich, 
but  what  they  save." 

There  are  a  great  many  horses  lost  by  this  disease 
that  might  be  saved.  The  lung  fever  always  makes  its 
appearance  by  a  chill;  the  horse  will  shake  and  tremble 
like  a  person  with  the  ague.  While  the  chill  is  on,  give 
him  a  strong  dose  of  the  hot  drops,  or  of  the  pepper  tea; 
or,  if  this  be  not  at  hand,  give  him  half  a  pint  of  fine  salt, 
dissolved  in  a  quart  of  warm  water.  This  will  entirely 
relieve  him  of  the  chill  and  create  a  perspiration;  but 
he  will  appear  very  sick  for  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
vive and  be  quite  well,  when  it  will  be  well  to  give  him 
a  dose  of  the  peppermint  and  camphor.  But  if  you 
should  not  discover  him  while  the  chill  is  on,  and  the 
fever  has  commenced,  it  will  require  different  treatment 
altogether.  Then  you  must  bleed  copiously;  it  is  the 
only  alternative  to  save  the  lungs  from  becoming  tainted* 


AVERY  S    OWN    FARRIER.  61 

for  which  there  is  no  cure.  You  should  take  from  a 
gallon  to  a  gallon  and  a  half  of  blood,  according  to  the 
severity  of  the  case,  from  the  neck  vein,  after  which, 
let  him  inhale  the  steam  from  saltpetre  dissolved  in 
water,  and  turned  on  a  hot  stone  or  shovel  under  his 
nose.  Now  see  that  he  is  well  rubbed  and  clothed,  and 
then  a  little  ginger  and  asafcetida  in  his  food  will  be 
beneficial.  His  food  should  be  light  for  a  few  days, 
and  he  should  enjoy  rest. 

The  symptoms  in  lung  fever  are  different  from  those  of 
most  other  diseases.  In  this  disease  the  horse  seldom,  if 
ever,  lies  down  after  the  fever  has  commenced  until  he 
dies,  unless  he  is  relieved.  He  is  stiff  and  sore  all  over, 
and  stands  with  his  fore  legs  as  wide  apart  as  possible, 
so  as  to  give  all  the  room  he  can  to  the  lungs.  Some- 
times he  will  go  two  or  three  days  after  the  chill  leaves 
him  before  he  will  give  out;  but  he  will  be  weak,  his 
breath  will  smell  bad,  the  excrement  hard  and  slimy. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HEAVES. 
"  Diet  cures  more  than  the  Doctor." 

The  first  step  towards  curing  any  disease,  should  be 
to  find  out  where  and  what  it  is,  for  where  there  is  no 
enemy  there  can  be  no  war.  There  have  been  a  great 
many  recipes  given,  and  medicines  compounded,  for  the 
cure  of  this  disease;  and  in  connection  with  other  coughs 
(for  they  are  looked  upon  by  many  all  alike),  it  has 


52  avery's  own  faerier. 

baffled  the  skill  of  as  raany  farriers  as  any  other  one  dis- 
ease of  the  horse.  One  reason  of  this  is,  because  it  has 
been  so  little  understood.  Some  have  contended  that  it 
was  in  the  throat,  and  others  that  it  was  on  the  lungs, 
&c.  I  will  endeavor  to  describe  it  so  that  you  will  get 
my  views  of  it  at  least. 

There  are  two  pipes,  one  leading  to  the  stomach  and 
the  other  to  the  lungs.  Where  they  meet  there  is  a  sort 
of  valve,  known  as  the  throttle  valve.  A  hearty  eater 
(for  they  are  the  most  liable  to  this  complaint)  in  eating 
coarse  and  dry  food,  irritates  this  place,  then  by  a  hard 
drive,  and  being  exposed  to  the  cold,  it  becomes  swollen, 
and  finally  becomes  a  running  sore  or  canker,  for  you 
never  saw  a  horse  that  was  fed  on  straw  or  cut  feed, 
that  was  wet  or  well  moistened,  get  the  heaves.  If  it 
■was  seated  on  the  lungs,  the  horse  would  become  weak 
and  tire  out  when  put  to  work,  which  is  not  the  case; 
besides  it  would  create  inflammation  and  kill  him  at  once. 

Now  you  turn  a  horse  out  to  pasture  a  few  days, 
that  has  simply  got  the  heaves,  and  you  will  see 
nothing  of  it.  Then  you  put  him  up  to  dry  hay 
one  night,  and  let  him  drink  cold  water,  and  he  will 
heave  as  bad  as  ever.  Now  has  the  hay  or  water  touched 
the  lungs  ?  No;  but  it  has  touched  the  parts  affected. 
The  philosophy  of  it  is  simply  this:  the  grass  is  cooling 
and  healing,  and  has  allayed  the  inflammation  in  those 
parts;  the  horse  breathes  free  and  easy  again,  and  the 
wound  is  partially  healed  under  those  circumstances.  If 
he  should  always  be  allowed  this  kind  of  diet,  he  would 
not  need  any  medicine  to  cure  this  disease,  would  he  ? 
You  allow  him  moistened  straw  with  his  meal,  plenty  of 


avery's  own  farrier.  63 

roots  cut  fine,  wheat  bran  (or  even  the  flour),  and  you 
will  not  see  any  heaves,*  and  he  will  do  as  much  work 
as  though  he  were  sound,  and  yet  it  is  very  desirable  to 
cure  him  of  this  disease  if  possible,  for  it  is  more  trouble 
and  costs  more  to  feed  him  in  this  way,  besides  it  lessens 
his  value,  for  he  is  not  a  sound  horse. 

Some  people  class  the  heaves  with  the  diseases  de- 
scribed in  the  foregoing  chapters,  for  both  excite  a 
cough,  but  very  different  in  character.  The  organs 
affected  are  quite  different.  With  heaves,  the  breath  is 
longf^r,  and  the  flanks  are  worked  with  more  of  a  sudden 
jerk  than  they  are  in  the  former  diseases.  Now,  in  order 
to  cure  the  horse  of  this  disease,  let  him  have  food  that 
will  favor  the  object,  and,  in  the  first  place,  feed  him  one 
or  two  quarts  of  wheat  flour  every  morning,  with  equal 
parts,  say  a  teaspoonfull  of  each,  of  cream  tartar  and 
soda,  occasionally  omitting  the  soda,  and  in  lieu  thereof, 
use  calcined  magnesia.  Prepare  this  in  any  way  that 
the  horse  will  eat  it  best.  Every  other  evening  give 
the  following:  One  teaspoonfull  of  balsam  of  fir,  one 
tablespoonful  of  honey,  and  a  half  teaspoonfull  of  pul- 
verized lobelia  seed,  either  in  drink  or  made  into  a  ball 
with  flour.  This  course  will  cure  most  cases  of  heaves 
entirely  if  continued  two  or  three  weeks.  You  should 
also  wet  his  hay  or  straw,  and  add  a  handful  of  brown 

■*  If  you  feed  dry  hay,  do  not  allow  the  horse  more  than  eight  or 
ten  pounds  per  day  at  most,  if  heavey,  for  he  will  eat  more  than  will 
digest  well,  and  this  irritates  the  stomach,  and  induces  heaves.  But 
what  is  better,  are  corn  stalks,  for  he  eats  those  slower,  masUcates 
them  better,  and  he  does  not  eat  more  of  them  than  will  digest  in 
the  stomach. 


54  avery's  own  farrier. 

sugar  to  his  meal  or  bran  for  a  short  time,  and  be  careful 
about  letting  hira  drink  too  much  cold  water  at  a  time, 
not  allowing  him  to  drink  what  he  wants  at  any  time, 
except  evening,  after  his  day's  work  is  done.  A  roasted 
onion  of  convenient  size  given  daily  as  a  ball,  will  have 
a  very  salutary  effect  on  this  disease. 


•  » > 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FOUNDER. 

Try  it  and  be  convinced  before  you  call  it  a  humbug. 

Founder  is  a  contraction  of  the  muscles,  whereby  the 
coffin  muscles  suffer  most.  They  lie  within  and  extend 
to  the  circle  of  the  hoof  (which  contracts  with  the 
muscle),  and  if  relief  is  not  found  immediately,  the  horse 
is  rendered  unfit  for  a  roadster.  And  any  one  being  so 
unfortunate  as  to  founder  his  horse,  even  on  a  journey  or 
elsewhere,  need  never  lay  by  in  consequence  of  the  worst 
founder,  more  than  two  or  three  hours  at  the  most. 

I  am  well  aware  that  there  is  a  disagreement  about 
what  causes  founder;  nevertheless,  I  have  my  opinion 
with  the  rest.  The  most  common  one  is  drinking  cold 
water,  when  hot;  but  a  horse  that  is  fatigued,  warm,  or 
sweaty,  and  exposed  to  the  cold  air  or  wind,  will  often 
founder  because  he  receives  a  sudden  chill.  Grain  is 
stimulating  and  will  not  founder  a  horse  of  itself;  it  may 
creat'e  an  unusual  heat  of  the  body  by  eating  too  much 
at  a  time,  and  then,  by  exposure  to  the  cold  air,  be  more 


avery's  own  farrier.  55 

liable  lo  founder  for  eating  ihe  grain.  Heat  expands 
and  cold  contracts,  as  every  one  knows. 

Any  lime  within  forty-eight  hours  after  a  horse  is 
foundered,  the  Indian  Remedy  is  sure  to  give  relief 
(and  no  mistake),  for  I  have  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  seeing  it  tested,  without  a  single  failure.  Some  may 
laugh  and  sneer  at  this  mode  of  curing  a  founder,  be- 
cause they  can  not  refute  it  in  any  other  way.  It  may 
seem  mysterious  to  others,  and  I  am  not  prepared  to  say 
what  its  peculiar  properties  are,  unless  it  is  the  electri- 
city it  contains;  but  the  more  we  learn  of  nature  and 
her  laws,  the  plainer  those  things  appear  to  us. 

Cure. — As  soon  as  you  find  that  your  horse  is  foun- 
dered (which  you  may  know  by  his  being  stiff  and  sore, 
and  hardly  able  to  use  his  fore  legs,  or  keep  them  under 
him),  take  a  sharp  pointed  pen  knife  and  split  the  wart 
that  is  to  be  found  on  the  back  part  of  the  fetlock  joint 
of  ihe  fore  leg,  so  as  to  get  a  spoonfull,  say,  of  blood 
from  each,  by  making  the  incision  up  and  down  with  the 
leg.  Then  lead  him  to  some  convenient  place  for  the 
purpose,  and  let  him  stand  in  brook  or  pond  water,  about 
halfway  to  his  knees,  two  hours.  Now  lead  him  back  to 
the  stable,  and  bathe  his  forward  legs  in  warm  water, 
and  rub  him  well,  which  will  get  up  a  perspiration,  and 
assist  in  relaxing  the  muscles.  Then  give  him  in  food, 
or  ball,  or  any  way  you  can  best,  a  small  handful  or  lock 
of  hair,  taken  from  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen  of  the 
human  body  (of  either  sex),  and  your  horse  will  be  as 
well  and  limber  in  a  short  time  as  though  there  had 
nothing  happened  to  him  (except  the  weakness  occa- 
sioned for  the  time  being),  and  what  is  more  remarkable, 


56  avery's  own  farrier. 

this  remedy  will  cure  him  perfectly  under  all  circumstan- 
ces; and  the  horse  cured  in  this  way  seldom  if  ever  has 
been  known  to  be  foundered  a  second  time. 

Founder  in  the  first  place,  or  what  causes  it,  is  a  high 
state  of  inflammation,  which  causes  contraction  after- 
wards, and  in  the  early  stages  of  the  complaint,  this 
remedy  relieves  them  entirely  of  the  inflammation. 


« ♦  • »  > 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BOTS    AND   WORMS. 
"  May  it  prove  harmless  for  evil,  and  powerful  for  good." 

Much  has  been  said  concerning  bots  and  worms,  and 
almost  every  one  has  a  different  remedy  from  his  neigh- 
bor, and  yet  there  are  a  great  many  horses  destroyed  by 
them  every  year,  and  many  more  are  kept  lean  and  weak 
by  those  vermin,  their  owners  not  knowing  what  the 
diflSculty  is.  I  have  opened  horses  that  have  died  with 
bots,  some  of  which  have  had  their  stomachs  eaten  en- 
tirely through,  being  perforated  like  a  riddle;  others 
have  had  the  inner  coating  of  the  guts  eaten  nearly  off*, 
in  places.  I  know  the  above  to  be  facts  in  the  case,  not- 
withstanding what  others  have  or  may  say  to  the  con- 
trary. It  is  well  known  that  horses,  having  many  worms, 
can  not  thrive  well  or  carry  much  flesh.  Now  if  the 
breeding  of  worms  and  bots  were  prevented,  it  would  add 
much  to  the  strength  and  usefulness  of  the  animal;  and 
when  you  have  read  this  chapter  through  you  will  know 
how  to  do  it  effectually. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  67 

Si/?nploms,  indicating  worms,  are  various,  as  there  are 
different  kinds  of  those  vermin,  occupying  different  parts 
of  the  body.  Sometimes  the  horse  is  lean  and  jaded, 
his  coat  rough  and  staring,  and  sometimes  there  is  a 
white  fur  to  be  seen  on  the  end  of  the  straight  gut,  and 
at  other  times  he  froths  and  drools  at  the  mouth  when 
driven  (without  any  evident  cause  to  many"),  and,  though 
he  has  a  remarkable  appetite,  he  does  not  thrive.  Now 
my  medicine  and  preventive  will  kill  and  destroy  the 
whole  family  of  intestinal  worms  and  bots,  of  every  kind 
and  description. 

Cause  of  Bots. — It  is  well  known  that  there  is  a  large 
fly,  resembling  the  wasp  (and  called  by  some  the  bot  fly), 
that  is  continually  teasing  the  horse  in  hot  weather  in 
summer,  and  continually  depositing  its  nits  or  eggs  in 
innumerable  quantities  about  the  legs,  neck  and  breast  of 
the  horse.  These  are  taken  into  the  stomach  by  his  nip- 
ping and  biting,  and  there  they  are  hatched  and  trans- 
muted into  bots,  which  so  much  annoy  him  afterwards. 
Some  may  doubt  this,  and  to  those  I  would  say,  just  try 
the  experiment  of  taking  some  of  these  nits  from  the 
horse's  legs  in  warm  weather  in  summer,  and  put  them 
in  the  hollow  of  the  hand,  add  spittle  w^arm  from  the 
mouth,  then  place  the  thumb  of  the  other  hand  upon 
thj^  and  sit  quietly  one  hour,  in  which  time  they  will 
hatch  and  crawl  on  your  taking  your  thumb  off  from  them, 
and  I  doubt  not  if  they  were  kept  in  the  right  tempera- 
ture, well  moistened,  that  in  a  few  hours  you  might  see 
the  full-grown  bot.  They  are  most  likely  to  trouble  the 
horse  soon  after  he  is  first  turned  to  pasture,  and  when 
he  is  put  up;  although  any  derangement  of  the  stomach 


58  avery's  own  farrier. 

will  set  them  at  their  destructive  work  at  any  time  of  the 
year. 

Symptoms. — He  will  suddenly  stop  eating,  look  around, 
often  bite  his  side  and  breast,  lie  down  and  quickly  rise 
again;  sometimes  when  down  will  roll  quite  on  his  back 
and  be  in  great  distress,  for  then  the  bot  is  boring  into 
the  maw  or  bowels;  sometimes  they  catch  hold  of  the 
straight  gut,  as  they  pass  along,  and  work  there.  When 
this  is  the  case  the  horse's  motions  denote  the  seat  of 
pain,  for  he  will  put  his  nose  back  towards  the  hips  and 
tail. 

Cure. — Take  as  much  alum  as  will  dissolve  in  a  quart 
of  warm  water,  and  turn  it  down  the  horse;  and  if  there 
are  any  signs  of  their  troubling  him  behind,  give  as  a 
glyster,  the  same  as  above;  after  two  or  three  hours  give 
physic.  This  is  the  most  certain  remedy  that  can  be 
given,  and  is  sure  to  save  your  horse  if  the  bots  have  not 
eaten  quite  through  the  maw  or  stomach.  A  piece  of 
weasel  skin  with  the  fur  on,  the  size  of  the  palm  of  your 
hand,  is  also  very  good  to  make  them  let  go;  it  will  not 
kill  them,  but  is  good  for  inflammation,  &c. 

MY    PREVENTIVE    FOR    BOTS    AND    WORMS. 
"A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient." 

Take  a  strong  solution  of  alum  and  wash  all  the  p^s 
on  which  there  are  any  nits;  this  acts  chemically  upon 
the  egg  and  destroys  the  fecundating  property  of  them, 
so  that  they  will  never  hatch  whether  thev  are  in  or  out 
of  the  stomach.  When  you  put  your  horse  up,  after  the 
season  is  over  for  this  fly,  give  a  piece  of  alum,  well 
pulverized,  the  size  of  a   walnut,  in   his  food  for  a  few 


avery's  own  farrier.  59 

days;  this  also,  will  destroy  any  that  might  be  in  the 
stonaach,  and  your  horse  will  be  secure  from  all  those 
things  called  bots,  worms  and  grubs.  And  it  is  perfectly 
harmless  to  the  horse,  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  I 
have  taken  the  maw  out  of  horses  that  had  been  killed 
by  bots,  while  the  bots  were  still  alive  and  at  work  in 
them,  and  experimented  with  a  great  many  kinds  of 
medicine  on  them,  and  found  that  alum  water  will  kill 
them  quicker  than  anything  else  that  I  ever  tried.  It 
may  seem  strange  to  some,  and  yet  it  is  true,  that  it 
will  kill  them  quicker  than  boiling  water.  It  neutralizes 
the  gases  of  the  stomach  in  a  peculiar  manner,  which  is 
as  destructive  to  the  bot  as  though  they  w^ere  imbued 
in  it. 

Some  may  say,  after  this  remedy  has  afforded  imme- 
diate relief,  that  they  must  have  been  mistaken  in  what 
ailed  the  horse,  because  they  did  not  see  any  bots  or 
worms  come  from  him.  Let  me  say  to  those,  that  it  is 
one  of  the  peculiar  properties  of  the  stomach  not  to  des- 
troy or  digest  animal  life,  otherwise  it  would  destroy 
itself;  but  this  remedy  kills  the  bots  without  injury  to 
the  stomach,  when  they  are  digested  with  the  food  he 
eats,  consequently,  they  are  not  seen  as  they  pass  off. 
And  then  this  remedy  cuts  and  crisps  them  up  in  such  a 
m^pier  that  they  are  never  more  to  be  seen. 


60  avery's  own  farrier. 


CHAPTER  TX. 

SLOBBERING    IN    SUMMER   AT   PASTURE. 

Causes. — Mr.  Mason  (and  others  agree  with  him)  con- 
tends that  it  is  by  eating  the  spider  web  that  is  found 
so  plentifully  spread  over  our  pastures.  Now,  if  this 
were  so,  why  don't  they  slobber  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year  when  this  web  is  to  be  found?  They  never  slobber 
in  the  early  part  of  summer,  and  then  this  web  is  to  be 
found  most  plentifully.  I  contend  that  it  is  the  white 
clover,  after  it  begins  to  dry  up,  that  causes  the  horse  to 
slobber,  for  then  it  is  that  he  commences  to  slobber,  and, 
as  soon  as  it  is  gone,  towards  fall  or  autumn,  he  ceases 
to  do  so.  And  then  you  watch  the  horse  and  see  how 
carefully  he  avoids  these  webs,  when  he  is  feeding  near 
them.  The  clover  has  the  property  of  salivating  them 
to  a  remarkable  degree,  while  feeding  on  other  green 
food.  Sometimes  horses  slobber  so  bad  when  they  run 
out  to  pasture,  that  they  will  grow  poor,  even  in  good 
feed,  besides  rendering  them  very  unpleasant  to  handle. 

Cure. — To  prevent  their  slobbering,  you  must  either 
put  them  up  to  dry  food,  or  give  them  what  they  will 
eat  (every  day)  of  equal  parts  of  pulverized  alum  and 
fine  salt,  which  will  prevent  this  difficulty,  and  alse^^om 
being  troubled  with  worms. 

To  Destroy  Lice — Wash  the  horse  with  a  strong 
solution  of  alum,  and  it  is  an  effectual  remedy  to  destroy 
lice,  that  so  much  hinders  the  growth  of  colls;  a  strong 
solution  of  aloes  is  good  for  a  like  purpose,  as  well  as  a 


avery's  own  farrier.  61 

strong  tea  made  of  cayenne  pepper.  It  is  too  well  known, 
that  colts  having  many  lice  on  them  can  not  thrive 
well,  for  me  to  say  anything  about  it,  further  than  to 
give  a  remedy  that  will  destroy  them,  which  is  the  great 
desideratum  in  the  case.  Two  washings,  four  days 
apart,  is  sufficient  to  kill  the  nits. 


4    ♦  >  >    » 


CHAPTER  X. 

SCRATCHES,  OR  GREASE. 
*'  Small  things,  make  larger  ones." 

This  is  a  very  troublesome  disease  in  horses  ;  and  un- 
less cured  immediately  on  being  discovered,  it  soon 
renders  them  unfit  for  use,  and  will  be  the  more  difficult 
to  cure. 

Cause. — Exposure  to  wet  and  cold  weather,  fevers 
and  the  like,  and  not  having  their  feet  and  legs  properly 
cleaned  after  being  driven  in  the  mud,  leaving  a  sluggish 
circulation,  whereby  the  extremities  suffer  most,  creat- 
ing heat  (fever)  in  the  heels,  &c. 

Symptoms. — The  legs  swell,  the  heels  look  red,  crack, 
and  become  very  sore,  and  the  horse  is  pained  on  being 
exercised  j  and  finally  grows  lamer  until  he  is  unfit  for 
service. 

Cure. — If  of  long  standing,  and  bad,  take  from  two  to 
three  quarts  of  blood  from  the  neck  vein  ;  repeat  if  ne- 
cessary in  a  week's  time;  give  daily,  doses  of  sulphur 
.in  small  quantities,  and  an  ounce  of  oil  of  sassafras,  in 

6 


62  avkry's  own  farrier. 

four  or  five  doses,  two  days  apart.  This  will  serve  to 
thin  and  purify  his  blood.  If  the  heels  are  hot  and  much 
inflamed,  poultice  them  with  dry  ginger  (or  wet  it  with 
vinegar).  This  will  take  out  the  inflammation.  Then 
take  half  a  pint  of  Boston  rum,  add  to  this  an  ounce  of 
blue  vitriol  and  two  ounces  of  loaf  sugar  (which  will 
bear  filling  up  with  the  rum),  as  you  use  it,  wash  the 
heels  with  this,  two  or  three  times  a  day,  until  cured; 
shake  well  before  using.  In  ordinary  cases,  this  wash 
is  all  that  is  necessary  to  effect  a  cure.  The  green  salve 
is  also  an  excellent  thing  ibr  cracked  heels,  and  many 
other  sores.  It  may  be  made  by  taking  half  a  pound  of 
hog's  lard,  and  adding  an  ounce  of  pulverized  blue  vi- 
triol: mix,  and  it  is  fit  for  use. 

Swelling  and  hiflammation. — This  is  caused  by  taking 
cold  after  castration,  other  wounds,  &c.  Bind  on  a 
large  poultice  made  of  clay  and  vinegar,  or  a  quantity 
of  green  burdock  leaves,  wilted  in  hot  vinegar.  This 
will  sweat  the  parts  it  is  applied  to,  and  take  the  swel- 
ling and  inflammation  aTl  out.  When  a  swelling  is 
going  to  matterate,  and  you  want  to  bring  it  to  a  head 
or  rot  it,  poultice  it  wiih  the  following  (if  it  is  not  ex- 
pedient to  use  the  lance):  Take  warm  water,  shave 
into  it  hard  soap,  stir  until  you  have  a  very  stiflf  lather, 
thicken  with  wheat  flour  and  bind  it  on  the  swelling. 
There  is  still  another  kind  of  poultice  that  is  very  good 
in  some  cases,  but  rather  milder  than  the  above.  Take 
carrots  and  have  them  grated  fine,  a  like  quantity  of 
charcoal  well  pulverized,  mix  them  together,  and  then 
add  yeast  enough  to  make  the  whole  pliable;  to  be  ap- 
plied  warm.     All  poultices  should  be  kept  warm  and 


Avery's  own  farrier.  63 

moist,  by  often  changing  them,  otherwise  they  do  more 
hurt  than  good. 

Wounds  and  old  Sores. — To  cleanse  and  take  out 
fungus  or  proud  flesh  in  wounds  and  old  sores,  syringe 
them  out  with  blue  vitriol  and  rum.  When  this  is  not 
sufficient,  lay  on  the  fungus  part  scrapings  of  an  old 
powder  horn  for  a  few  hours,  after  which  apply  the  rum 
and  vitriol  again.  To  heal,  use  the  healing  salve  which 
is  made  in  the  following  manner  :  Take  honey,  rosin 
and  balsam  of  fir,  about  equal  parts;  add  a  little  lard  if 
you  choose.  This  will  be  found  to  be  first  rate  for 
healing,  in  cases  where  it  does  not  do  its  work  too  fast. 

For  Burns. — Now  it  sometimes  happens  that  horses 
get  badly  burned,  and  a  burn  requires  different  treatment 
from  other  wounds,  therefore  I  will  tell  you  how  to  heal 
a  burn.  If  you  should  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  one 
on  yourself,  or  on  your  horse,  which  you  wish  to  heal 
quick,  take  the  pussy  tails  that  grow  on  the  top  of  the 
blue  or  swa:r.p  flag,  pick  it  up  fine,  then  mix  it  with 
fresh  lard  and  apply  it  to  the  burn.  If  this  heals  too 
fast  on  the  surface  (leaving  the  sore  unsound  under- 
neath), then  add  an  ounce  of  litharge  to  half  a  pound 
of  the  lard,  simmer  down  a  little  over  a  slow  fire,  and 
when  cold  apply  to  the  sore.  This  seldom  fails  of  heal- 
ing the  worst  of  burns.  When  partially  healed,  dress 
the  wound  occasionally  with  sweet  oil,  to  assist  in  restor- 
ing the  hair. 

For  Stiff  Joints  and  Callouses. — Take  the  bark  of 
sumach  root,  put  it  in  brandy,  add  oil  of  angle-worms, 
and  shake  well  before  using.  Use  once  a  day,  spar- 
ingly.    This  is  a  very  powerful  liniment. 


64  AVERY 'S    OWN    FARRIER. 

Here  is  another  that  is  very  useful,  but  more  mild. 
Take  eight  ounces  of  oil  of  turpentine,  four  ounces  of 
Barbadoes,  lour  drachms  of  the  oil  of  rosemary;  dissolve 
in  water,  add  two  drachms  of  sal  ammoniac,  then  mix  all 
together,  and  apply  twice  a  day  until  it  gives  relief. 

Liniment  for  Bruises,  Sprains  and  Ulcers. — Take  one 
pint  of  good  alcohol,  one  drachm  of  blue  vitrol,  two 
drachms  of  camphor  gum,  two  drachms  of  saltpetre,  two 
drachms  of  the  tincture  of  gum  myrrh,  pulverize  and 
mix  all  together,  let  it  stand  twelve  hours,  and  shake 
well  before  using. 

Here  is  another  for  a  like  purpose,  which  is  a  very 
stimulating  and  useful  one.  Take  equal  parts  of  the  oil 
of  origanum  and  the  oil  of  wormwood,  add  sufficient 
alcohol  to  cut  the  oils.  Good  also  for  windgall,  oselets, 
splints,  ringbones,  &c. 


<  <  >  » » 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE    FEET, 

"  Time  and  the  ever  chauging  world,  are  the  great  baskets 
from  which  we  pick  wisdom  and  amusement  as  we  go." 

I  must  say  a  few  words  now  about  the  feet.  In  cases 
of  old  founders,  corns  and  other  wounds,  caused  by  bad 
shoeing,  &c.,  the  hoofs  become  contracted  and  full  of 
fever,  which  makes  the  horse  almost  a  cripple  for  road 
service.  To  remedy  this,  some  people  stuff  the  feet  with 
cow  manure.  This  should  never  be  done,  for  if  you 
take  a  well  horse  and  stuff  his  feet  in  this   manner  for 


Avery's  own  farrier.  65 

two  or  three  successive  nights,  it  will  create  a  fever  in 
them;  but  when  you  have  occasion  to  stuff  the  feet,  do  it 
with  clay  well  moistened  with  vinegar,  and  you  may  add 
a  little  spirits  of  turpentine;  this  will  draw  out  the  fever 
and  leave  the  hoof  in  a  more  healthy  state,  which  is 
what  you  desire.  You  can  soften  the  hoof  by  rubbing  on 
soft  soap,  but  you  should  not  let  it  touch  the  hair  above. 

In  cases  of  old  founders  and  contractions  of  the  hoof, 
you  can  improve  them  very  much,  and  sometimes  cure 
them  entirely,  by  bathing  the  legs  with  hot  water  every 
day  for  some  two  weeks;  this  relaxes  the  muscles  (if  the 
stiffness  proceeds  from  a  soreness  of  the  chest,  feed  a 
handfull  of  sunflower  seed  during  the  time),  and  thus  by 
using  anything  that  will  cause  the  hoof  to  grow  fast, 
gives  relief,  and  when  you  have  got  a  new  hoof,  the 
horse  will  be  well  and  sound  again  as  ever. 

You  can  grow  on  an  entire  new  hoof  in  a  few  weeks 
by  adhering  strictly  to  the  following  directions:  At  a 
season  of  the  year  when  you  can  obtain  it  (or  you  can 
make  it  into  a  salve  and  keep  for  use),  gather  from  the 
field  as  it  is  growing,  green  wheat  before  it  heads  out; 
take  a  quantity  of  this  and  boil  it  in  greasy  pot  liquor 
until  it  is  thick  and  salvy;  then  anoint  the  hoof  often 
with  it,  and  for  a  day  or  two  at  first  bind  on  some  of  it 
that  is  not  boiled  so  much.  If  the  above  can  not  be  ob- 
tained, use  the  following  mixture:  Take  equal  parts  of 
white  pine  turpentine  and  fresh  lard;  melt  them  together, 
and  add,  before  using,  enough  of  spirits  of  turpentine  to 
have  it  spread  easy,  and  bathe  the  hoof  several  times  a 
day  with  this,  rubbing  it  well  around  the  hoof  and  close 


66  avery's  own  farrier. 

to  the  hair;  melt  some  of  the  same  two  or  three  times  a 
week,  and  pour  it  on  the  bottom  of  the  hoof. 

I  have  seen  horses  very  lame  in  consequence  of  being 
corked  badly  in  (he  feet,  having  split  hoofs,  &c.,  and 
otherwise  disfigured  by  bunches  and  callouses.  To  remedy 
those  evils,  in  the  first  place  see  that  the  wounds  are  free 
from  dirt  and  hair,  for  if  there  is  any  of  these  left  in  the 
wound  it  will  have  to  fester  and  work  them  out  before  it 
can  hea],  which  takes  much  longer  than  to  have  the 
wound  clean  at  the  start,  besides  being  very  painful  to 
the  horse.  When  this  has  been  done,  then  a  very  good 
application  is  to  melt  tar  and  tallow  together,  and  turn 
it  into  the  wound  quite  hot,  or  if  you  wish  to  use  the 
horse,  melt  tallow  and  India  rubber  together;  this  forms 
a  paint  or  coating  that  is  impervious  to  dirt  or  water; 
then  you  may  drive  him  every  day,  if  you  choose,  with- 
out fearing  any  bad  results  from  the  wound,  only  on 
coming  in  at  night  you  should  drop  a  little  spirits  of  some 
kind  into  the  wound  to  prevent  his  getting  cold  in  it. 
But  if  you  are  not  going  to  use  him  at  all,  and  wish  to 
heal  it  faster,  apply  the  healing  salve,  and  you  will  not 
have  any  blemish  left. 

To  cure  a  split  in  the  hoof,  you  have  only  to  take  a 
sharp-pointed  knife  and  cut  through  the  hoof  crosswise, 
just  above  the  split;  you  need  not  cut  more  than  half  an 
inch  in  length;  now  rub  on  some  of  the  hoof  ointment, 
and  it  will  grow  smooth  and  sound.  By  observing  the 
above  rules,  and  seeing  that  your  horse's  feet  are  not  in- 
jured by  bad  shoeing,  you  will  do  better  than  a  great 
many  have  done  before  you.  What  is  a  fine  looking 
horse  good  for  if  he  has  no  feet? 


avery's  own  farrier.  67 

Shoeing. — A  few  hints  on  shoeing  may  possibly  be  of 
some  use.  Some  horses,  that  are  otherwise  very  good 
ones,  have  flat  feet  (which  is  very  objectionable),  and 
others  with  very  thin  and  tender  hoofs,  are  oftentimes 
materially  injured  by  bad  shoeing.  The  smiths  frequently 
pare  too  much  off  from  the  heel  and  frog  of  the  foot, 
which  are  the  natural  braces  and  support  of  the  foot. 
By  paring  this  part  of  the  foot  away  it  lets  it  nearer  the 
grounil  (that  is  the  sensitive  part  thereof),  and  makes  it 
more  liable  to  get  bruised  on  stones  and  other  hard  sub- 
stances, causing  corns  and  thrush;  besides  this,  when  it 
is  taken  off  too  much  in  proportion  to  the  toe,  it  is  very 
straining  to  the  pasterns,  often  causing  lameness  there. 

Interfering  is  another  fault  that  some  horses  are  very  lia- 
ble to,  especially  young  ones,  before  they  get  spread  in  the 
quarters,  because  they  tire  quicker  and  do  not  travel  so 
wide,  and  the  smiths  often  make  them  worse  by  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  are  in  the  habit  of  shoeing  them,  in 
paring  too  much  off  the  heel  and  inside  of  the  hoof,  and 
making  the  inside  cork  of  the  shoe  the  shortest.  This 
certainly  throws  the  foot  in  when  they  take  it  up,  instead 
of  out,  which  causes  them  to  cut  the  more.  The  hoof 
should  be  pared  off  most  on  the  outside  and  toe,  and  have 
the  inside  cork  quite  as  long,  or  longer  than  the  other. 
This  throws  the  foot  out,  and  they  are  not  so  likely  to 
strike  the  other  with  it  while  traveling;  they  seldom 
strike  \vith  the  cork,  but  generally  with  the  spern,  or  side 
of  the  shoe;  although  the  paring  on  the  outside  should 
not  be  done  to  that  extent  as  to  turn  the  foot  so  much  as 
to  strain  or  otherwise  injure  the  joints  above.  Much  has 
been   said  and  written   about  the  form  of  the  shoe,   but 


68  avery's  own  farrier. 

much  more  depends  on  the  manner  in  which  it  is  set  than 
the  form  thereof.  But  I  will  not  dwell  on  this  point,  as 
it  is  not  my  trade;  and  yet  I  can  not  but  wish  that  every 
horse  shoer  was  a  good  farrier,  or  at  least  understood  the 
feet  better  than  they  generally  do.  More  will  be  said  on 
this  subject  hereafter.  The  horse  that  does  not  interfere 
before  he  is  shod  should  not  afterwards. 

To  take  off  Wind  Galls'. — Wash  often,  until  the  puffs 
are  gone,  with  blood  root  steeped  in  vinegar;  or  use  oil 
of  wormwood  freely  until  it  has  the  desired  effect.  It 
may  sometimes  be  necessary  to  lay  on  a  little  blistering 
ointment,  and  bandage  tight  as  you  can  and  not  pain  the 
horse. 


<■•»»» 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  What  is  worthless,  dies — what  is  pernicious,  sickens,  faints, 
and  has  no  influence — while  the  wholesome  and  sound,  the 
just  and  true,  lives." 

FOR    SPRAINS,  BRUISES,  BITES,  AND  SWELLINGS    ON    THE    LEGS. 

In  recent  injuries  of  this  kind  on  the  legs,  as  well  as 
in  rheumatic  difficulties  in  the  legs,  and  sometimes  in 
the  back,  the  horse  has  no  power  to  raise  the  limb  or 
throw  it  forward  at  all.  Now  why  is  it  so  ?  The 
mucles  are  as  strong  and  powerful  as  ever,  and  still  he 
has  no  use  of  the  limb.  • 

I  must  be  allowed  to  introduce  a  comparison  here  to 
illustrate  this  idea.  Supposing  you  were  in  Albany,  and 
wished  to  send  a  telegraphic  communication  to  Uiica; 
but  the  wire  being  disconnected  at  Little  Falls  (which  is 


avery's  own  farrier.  69 

situated  between  the  places  above  spoken  of),  you  may 
keep  sending  in  vain,  without  getting  a  reply  from  the 
Utica  folks.  Why?  The  telegraph  wire  is  broken  and 
all  communication  between  the  two  places  cut  off. 

The  brain  of  the  horse  (as  well  as  that  of  man)  is  the 
great  battery,  or  source  of  every  motion  of  the  body  and 
limbs.  The  nerves  are  the  telegraph  wires,  running  from 
the  brain  to  every  part  of  the  body  susceptible  of  motion; 
thus,  he  wills  the  foot  to  move,  and  it  does  so  (and  not 
till  then).  But  when  the  nerves  are  injured  in  any  way, 
so  that  they  do  not  perform  their  proper  office,  the  tele- 
graph wire  is  broken  as  it  were,  and  the  nerves,  together 
with  the  cords  and  muscles,  lay  dormant  and  inactive. 
"When  you  restore  the  nerves  to  their  wonted  office, 
which  is  to  convey  intelligence  from  the  brain  to  every 
other  part,  the  whole  machinery  is  set  in  motion  again 
as  before.  I  have  seen  the  nerves  affected  in  this  way 
by  the  bite  of  dogs,  and  often  by  corks  and  taking  cold. 
The  safest,  the  surest,  and  the  most  speedy  remedy  for 
this  is  the  following: 

Cure  — W^isp  up  hay  or  straw  into  a  kind  of  rope,  and 
wind  the  leg  with  it  from  the  hoof  to  the  body  (or  above 
the  swelling  if  possible);  then  let  a  stream  of  cold  water 
run  in  at  the  top  of  this,  and  next  to  the  leg,  for  an  hour 
or  two,  or  until  you  create  a  perspiration;  then  rub  the 
limb  until  nearly  dry,  remembering  to  always  rub  a 
swelling  of  any  kind  towards  the  extremities.  This  will 
take  the  swelling  and  inflammation  entirely  out;  after 
which  wash  the  parts  with  wormwood  steeped  in  vine- 
gar or  camphoretted  spirits,  which  is  all  that  will  be  ne- 
cessary in  most  cases  of  this  nature.     Yet  should  it  ever 


70  avery's  own  farrier. 

fail  of  having  the  desired  effect  in  full,  all  you  have  to 
do  then  is  to  apply  to  the  limb  what  may  be  found  in  the 
after  part  of  this  work,  under  the  head  of  Lightning 
Liniment^  which  will  perfect  the  cure. 

To  destroy  Lice  on  Colts. — It  is  well  known  to  every 
farmer  that  horses  or  colts  can  not  thrive  well  if  they  are 
lousy;  and  it  will  only  be  necessary  for  me  to  prescribe 
a  remedy  that  will  effectually  destroy  them.  This  can 
be  done  by  washing  every  part  of  the  horse  affected  with 
the  vermin,  with  a  strong  solution  of  aloes,  and  giving 
him  a  spoonfull  of  sulphur  for  a  few  days.  But  it  will 
be  necessary  to  repeat  the  washing  after  about  four  days, 
and  perhaps  a  third  time,  in  order  to  destroy  those  that 
were  not  hatched  at  the  first  washing.  Alum  may  also 
be  used  for  this  purpose,  with  good  success;  and  if  you 
could  be  sure  of  touching  every  louse  and  nit  with  this 
last  wash,  one  application  would  be  sufficient;  but  the 
thick  coat  of  hair  on  colts  will  prevent  this.  By  being 
thorough  with  either  of  the  above,  you  will  in  a  very 
short  time  improve  his  condition,  increase  his  growth, 
and  thereby  enhance  his  value.  Then  you  can  dispense 
with  the  use  of  unguentum,  which  is  so  poisonous,  and 
the  snuff  and  oil,  and  the  tobacco,  which  is  so  weaken- 
ing and  sickening  to  your  animals. 

BLLND  STAGGERS,  OR  APOPLEXY. 

This  is  a  very  dangerous  disease,  and  the  horse  often 
dies  with  the  first  attack. 

Symptoms. — He  reels  and  generally  falls;  if  he  sur- 
vives and  gets  up  he  sometimes  appears  very  weak,  reel- 
ing  as  he  goes;   while  at  other  times  he  will   be  very 


avery's  own  farrier.  71 

reckless  and  mad.  The  cause  is  too  great  a  determina- 
tion or  rush  of  biood  to  the  head,  thus  affecting  the 
brain,  and  causing  the  above  named  fits. 

Cure. — Immediately  on  seeing  that  he  has  a  fit  of  this 
kind,  take  a  gallon  of  blood  from  the  neck  vein;  also 
split  the  skin  of  the  forehead  two  or  three  inches  in 
length  up  and  down;  peel  the  skin  back  a  little,  and  fill 
the  wound  with  fine  salt  and  pepper;  then  close  the 
wound,  and  keep  it  so  by  means  of  two  or  three  stitches. 
Moderate  exercise  in  the  open  air  will  not  hurt  him,  if 
the  weather  should  be  favorable.  After  about  ten  hours, 
give  nearly  a  pint  of  linseed  oil,  adding  half  an  ounce 
of  sassafras  oil.  Should  he  become  costive  after  the 
operation  of  the  above,  give  small  doses  of  sulphur  for  a 
few  days,  and  let  his  food  be  simple  and  digestible. 


<  ♦ » •  » 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  philosopher  Dan  says,  if  a  man  is  poor,  all  he  has  to  do 
to  become  rich,  is  to  reverse  the  action  by  increasing  his  income, 
and  diminishing  his  outlays.  This  applies,  with  the  same  force, 
to  diseases.  Reverse  the  action  by  removing  the  cause,  and 
nature  will  do  her  work  again;  and  health  is  restored. 

HORSE    DISTEMPER, 

This  is  a  disease  that  all  colts  are  liable  to,  and  it  is 
also  very  contagious;  but  if  attended  to  in  time,  it  can 
be  cured  without  much  trouble,  or  any  bad  effects  arising 
from  it,  and  even  without  their  swelling  and  breaking 


72  avery's  own  farrier. 

in  the  throat  at  all,  which  often  causes  thick  wind.  The 
swelling  and  breaking  in  the  throat,  leaves  a  callous 
where  the  opening  in  the  throat  existed  (more  to  the 
injury  of  the  horse  when  it  breaks  on  the  inside);  then 
by  checking  the  horse  up,  there  is  not  room  for  the 
wind,  and  he  wheezes,  but  as  soon  as  he  stops  and  is 
unchecked,  he  breathes  easily  again. 

As  a  preventive  for  distemper,  give  daily  doses  (in 
small  quantities)  of  gum  asafoetida,  and  about  twice  a 
week,  a  spoonfull  of  sulphur. 

The  character  of  this  disease  may  be  ascertained  by  the 
horse  being  troubled  to  drink  unless  it  is  held  up  to  him, 
and  having  what  some  call  a  dry  or  tight  cough. 

Care. — First,  bleed  freely;  then  take  a  piece  of  cloth 
large  enough  to  double  several  times,  leaving  it  some 
six  or  eight  inches  square;  wet  this  in  cold  water  and 
salt,  and  bring  it  closely  up  to  the  jaws  and  throat,  and 
fasten  by  means  of  a  bandage  running  over  the  head  and 
neck;  change  it  often  for  one  newly  wet;  keep  the  bow- 
els open  by  feeding  sulphur  or  aloes  in  bran,  together 
with  a  small  quantity  of  asafoetida,  and  you  will  have 
no  further  trouble.  But  if  he  should  be  neglected  until 
he  refuses  his  food,  and  his  throat  is  badly  swollen,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  bleed  copiously,  and  apply  hot  fo- 
mentations (of  bitter  herbs)  to  the  throat,  which  will 
prevent  its  breaking  on  the  inside,  and  often  effect  a 
speedy  cure. 

BLACK   TONGUE. 

The  celebrated  veterinary  surgeon,  Richard  Mason  of 
Virginia,  strenuously  recommended  the  constant  use  of  the 


avery's  own  farrier.  73 

gum  asafoetida  in  this  dreadful  disease,  as  a  preventive 
of  this,  as  well  as  other  contagious  diseases;  and  further 
says,  he  owes  his  success  in  preventing  and  curing  this 
disorder,  to  the  constant  use  of  this  drug.  The  value  of 
asafoetida,  as  a  medicine  for  the  horse,  has  been  but  little 
known;  but  where  it  has  been  once  properly  used,  its 
remarkable  effects  will  prove  this  observation  correct. 
It  acts  as  a  stimulant,  antispasmodic,  expectorant  and 
anthelmintic,  while  its  action  is  quiet  and  penetrating. 
"Where  a  small  piece  of  asafoetida  has  been  placed  in  the 
manger  of  a  horse  that  was  in  health,  I  have  known  him 
to  occupy  a  stall  for  months  adjoining  one  in  which  was 
a  horse  affected  with  a  contagious  disease,  without  being 
in  the  least  affected,  or  any  ill  consequences  resulting 
therefrom. 

Preventive. — Take  one  ounce  of  asafoetida,  divide  into 
two  parts,  wrap  them  in  clean  linen  rags,  and  nail  one 
of  them  in  the  bottom  of  the  bucket  from  which  the  horse 
is  watered,  and  the  other  in  the  manger  where  he  is  fed. 
A  small  piece  confined  to  his  bit  when  he  goes  from 
home,  will  act  as  a  preventive  against  taking  colds  and 
all  contagious  diseases. 

Cure. — When  the  disease  has  commenced,  take  one 
pint  of  castor  oil,  one  ounce  of  balsam  copaiva,  one 
ounce  of  sweet  spirits  of  nitre;  let  these  ingredients  be 
well  mixed  in  a  bottle  and  given. 

M  Wash  for  the  Mouth. — Take  one  pint  of  vinegar, 
four  ounces  of  alum,  a  piece  of  verdigris  as  large  as  a 
common  sized  bean,  and  a  handfull  of  sage;  let  the  sage 
be  steeped  in  a  pint  of  warm  water,  in  which  also  dis- 
solve   the    alum    and   verdigris.     Use    this    as    a   wash 

7 


74  avery's  own  farrier. 

for  the  mouth,  two  or  three  times  a  day,  until  the  cure  is 
effected. 

THE    USE    OF    BLANKETS   FOR    THE    HORSE. 
An  ounce  of  preventive,  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure. 
The  great  difficulty  with  the  horse,  in  this  respect,  is 
the  liability  he  is  subject  to  by  sudden  changes  from  heat 
to  cold,  and  from  cold  to  heat;  and  when  a  horse  is  very 
hot,   or  very  cold,  he  should   be  allowed   to  come  to  his 
natural  feeling  and  warmth  by  degrees,  for  he  is  as  often 
injured  by  being  too  hot,  as  by  being  too  cold.     Now  a 
horse   should    never   be  driven  until    he    is  warm   and 
sweaty,  and  then  allowed  to  stand  in  the  cold  wind  (with 
or  without  a  blanket)  until  he  gets  chilly.     Blankets -are 
very  necessary  and  useful  if  properly  used,  but,  if  not  so 
employed,  they  had  better   not   be  used   at   all.     Some 
people  do  great  injury  to  their  horses  with  them,  while 
intending  to  benefit  their  horses;  for   instance,  when  a 
horse  has  been  driven  until  he  is  quite  hot,  they  will,  im- 
mediately  after  stopping   him,  put  on   a  blanket,   and 
sometimes  two  or  three,  or  perhaps  a  buffalo  robe;  this 
confines  all  the  sweat  and  steam  to  the  body,  which  is 
very  injurious  to  the  lungs,  &c.,  often  causing  the  horse 
to  take  cold^  and   leave  him  with  a  settled  cough — and 
thus   they  kill    him  wiih  kindness;  but   when    a    horse 
comes  in  heated  in  this  way,  he  should  be  well  rubbed, 
and  allowed  to  stand  until  the  perceptible  evaporation 
has  nearly  escaped  from  the  body,  and  then  covered  up 
with  a  good  blanket  before  they  begin  to  feel  cold;  they 
will  thereby  be  benefited,  and  saved  from  many  diseases 
Ihat  arise  from  an  untimely  use  of  the  blanket. 


avery's  own  farrier.  75 

To  prevent  Flies  from  teasing  Horses. — Take  sorrel 
leaf,  about  in  the  proportion  of  tea,  and  steep  in  water. 
Clean  the  horse,  and  then,  with  a  sponge,  wash  him 
thoroughly  before  going  out.  Walnut  leaves  or  penny- 
royal soaked  over  night,  then  boiled,  and  applied  in  the 
above  manner,  will  answer  a  like  purpose. 

Warts. — Colls,  while  growing,  sometimes  have  warts 
come  on  them,  which  very  much  disfigure  and  hurt  their 
looks,  if  they  do  not  otherwise  injure  them.  I  have 
known  the  owner  of  one  of  these  animals  say  he  would 
give  ten  dollars  if  he  knew  how  to  take  off  that  wart, 
and  not  hurt  the  horse.  My  remedy  will  not  cost  you 
ten  cents  to  take  off  the  largest  wait  you  ever  saw. 

They  can  be  removed  thus:  take  a  quantity  of  ash 
bark  off  the  tree  commonly  known  as  the  swamp  ash, 
which,  on  being  reduced  to  ashes,  and  applied  once  in 
twenty-four  hours,  wet,  in  the  form  of  a  poultice,  will 
in  a  few  days  remove  the  excrescence;  in  repeating,  the 
ashes  covering  the  wart  should  be  carefully  removed  by 
washing  it  with  soap  suds  made  of  hard  soap;  when  it 
is  eaten  entirely  out,  then  dress  it  as  you  would  any  other 
wound,  to  heal  it  up.  '  This  is  much  safer  than  to  use  the 
knife. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


FOR  WEAKNESS  ACROSS  THE  LOINS,  OR  DERANGEMENT  OF 
THE  URINARY  ORGANS,  AND  GRAVEL  OR  STONE  IN  THE 
BLADDER. 

In  cases  of  this  kind,  people  are  very  apt  to  mistake, 
or  err  in  judgment,  as  to  the  real  cause  of  the  animal's 


76  avery's  own  farrier. 

pain  and  diflSculty,  for  it  requires  a  pretty  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  diseases  of  the  horse,  to  distinguish 
this  from  some  other  complaints.  In  ordinary  cases  of 
this  nature,  however,  there  will  be  an  apparent  weakness 
and  stiffness  of  the  hind  parts,  not  unfrequently  accom- 
panied with  a  general  tremor  or  trembling  of  the  whole 
body.  This  perhaps  would  not  have  occurred,  if  the 
horse  had  eaten  a  small  dose  of  rosin  in  his  food  at  any 
time  within  a  week  previous  to  his  being  taken,  which 
in  all  probability  would  have  served  as  a  preventive. 
And  in  many  cases,  this  is  all  that  is  required  to  set  him 
right  afterwards;  although  it  may  be  necessary  some- 
times to  do  something  more  for  him,  which  depends  upon 
what  and  where  the  difficulty  is. 

The  causes  are  various  that  bring  on  these  difficulties. 
It  is  sometimes  caused  by  the  horse  being  either 
strained,  heated,  or  over-doing,  and  then  taking  cold, 
which  settles  across  the  kidneys — causing  inflammation 
there,  while  the  water  will  look  quite  red.  When  he 
continues  in  this  way  any  considerable  time,  without 
finding  relief,  the  organs,  which  he  opens  and  closes  at 
will,  become  irritated  and  swollen,  so  that  they  do  not 
periorm  their  office.  The  passage  often  becomes  closed 
so  that  he  urinates  wuth  great  difficulty,  or  not  at  all — or, 
in  other  words,  the  bladder  does  not  contract  sufficiently 
to  void  the  urine,  which  increases  the  inflammation,  and 
causes  them  to  swell  and  become  very  sore,  and  the 
animal  is  in  great  pain,  making  frequent  efforts  to  urin- 
ate, and  if  he  voids  any  it  will  be  very  red  or  blackish. 
It  is  sometimes  brought  on  by  other  disorders  that  have 


Avery's  own  farrier.  77 

been  imperfectly  cured,  and  have  left  impurities  of  blood, 
that  must  in  time  destroy  the  horse,  or  work  itself  out  by 
way  of  the  urine,  the  kidneys  being  the  organs  by  which 
these  fluids  are  secreted;  and  sometimes  these  organs 
are  powerfully  operated  on  by  the  sympathetic  affection 
of  other  disordered  parts;  hence  we  see  the  water  look 
muddy  or  milky,  and  the  sediment  thereof  will  contain 
numerous  ced  and  yellow  particles,  which,  by  the  secret- 
ive organs  not  doing  their  work  properly,  cause  (though 
not  very  frequently)  gravel,  or  stone  in  the  bladder  as  it 
is  called. 

The  symptoms  are,  great  restlessness  and  pain,  stop- 
page of  urine,  with  fits  or  spasms,  cold  ears,  and 
generally  slow  but  strong  pulse. 

There  are  various  things  that  operate  powerfully  upon 
the  water,  of  which  I  will  mention  several  that  may  be 
employed  with  good  success.  It  is  not  always  that  one 
medicine  will  suit  or  cure  all  diseases  of  this  nature. 
They  are  often  as  differently  located  as  they  are  derived 
from  various  causes,  &c.;  sometimes  the  difficulty  is 
wholly  in  the  kidneys,  and  may  not  be  anything  more 
than  inflammation;  and  it  may  be  gravel  lodged  between 
the  kidneys  and  bladder,  or  in  the  bladder  itself;  and 
again  it  may  not  be  in  either  of  these  places,  but  arise 
merely  from  inflammation  in  the  neck  of  the  bladder  and 
glands.  So  you  see  that  one  medicine  is  not  likely  to 
reach  every  case  under  all  these  varying  circumstances. 

By  introducing  the  hand  into  the  rectum,  if  the  blad- 
der is  found  to  be  full  and  hard,  there  is  inflammation  of 
the  neck  of  it;  if  it  is  empty,  yet  on  the  portion  of  the 
intestines  over  it  there  is  more  than  natural  heat  and  ten- 


78  A-Very's  own  farrier. 

derness,  there  is  inflammation  of  the  bladder;  and  if  the 
bladder  is  empty,  and  there  is  no  increased  heat  or  ten- 
derness, then  there  is  inflammation  of  the  kidneys;  so, 
also,  if  there  be  stone  in  the  bladder,  it  may  be  felt  by 
the  hand,  by  throwing  the  horse  and  turning  him  upon 
his  back,  as  it  falls  down  on  the  rectum. 

Most  commonly  the  horse  does  not  require  strong  or 
often  repeated  diuretics,  unless  the  object  be  to  wash  out 
the  bladder  and  clear  it  of  gravel  and  other  obstructions, 
and  even  then  they  should  not  be  continued  long  at  a 
time;  for,  by  so  doing,  you  excite  the  kidneys  to  over- 
action,  whereby  they  secrete  an  undue  proportion  of  real 
blood  with  the  urine,  which  is  more  injurious  to  the 
horse  than  direct  bleeding. 

Cure. — In  the  first  place,  give  a  spoonfull  of  pulverized 
rosin,  in  honey  suficient  to  ball  it,  or  the  whole  may  be 
dissolved  in  a  quart  of  warm  water  and  given  as  a  drench; 
also  give  him  a  portion  of  salts,  adding  a  spoonfull  of 
cream  of  tartar.  If  he  should  not  get  relief  from  this 
within  a  short  time,  or  if  the  animal  is  in  great  pain  and 
restless,  commence  immediately,  after  giving  the  medi- 
cine, to  place  hot  fomentations  over  the  kidneys,  of  bit- 
ter herbs  steeped  in- vinegar,  or  salt  and  water,  repeating 
them  often,  and  keeping  them  hot  for  several  hours;  do 
not  leave  the  back  w^et  and  uncovered  afterwards,  but 
rub  dry  with  a  hot  flannel  cloth.  This  will  ease  the  pain 
of  the  animal,  and  help  the  operation  of  the  medicine. 

When  the  above  is  not  convenient,  or  is  deemed  not 
suflScient,  after  a  reasonable  time  for  it  to  operate,  you 
may  give  either  of  the  following  (continuing  the  foment- 
atations  as  before):  Any  of  the  various  kinds  of  melon 


avery's  qwn  farrier.  79 

or  pumpkin  seeds,  steeped  to  a  strong  decoction,  one  pint, 
adding  half  a  pint  of  good  gin,  unless  the  disease  is  de- 
cidedly inflammatory;  or  you  may  give  balls  of  the  pine 
turpentine,  or  dissolve  this  in  gin  also;  or  balsam  of  co- 
paiba, or  balsam  of  fir.  A  tea  made  by  steeping  the 
boughs  of  the  latter,  is  also  very  good  for  the  water  (as 
well  as  for  a  cough).  The  tea  made  from  the  boughs  of 
the  common  hemlock,  is  good  for  a  like  purpose;  or,  if 
these  are  not  at  hand,  and  the  inflammation  is  not  very 
great,  one  ounce  of  spirits  of  nitre  may  be  given  for  a 
dose,  with  good  success;  or  you  can  give  the  urine  balls, 
as  directed  in  numbered  recipes. 

The  above  is  deemed  sufficient  for  all  ordinary  cases 
of  inflammation  of  the  kidneys,  and  stoppage  of  urine. 
But  in  more  serious  cases,  with  gravel  or  stone  in  the 
bladder  or  intestines,  bleed  —  if  the  hor?e  is  in  good  con- 
dition and  the  pulse  strong,  the  fomentations  as  above 
will  still  be  useful;  or,  by  boiling  up  a  good  lot  of  to- 
bacco, and  applying  hot,  you  have  the  benefit  of  the  hot 
water,  together  with  the  laxative  property  of  the  tobacco, 
and  a  pint  of  this  may  be  injected  up  the  rectum,  which 
will  relax  and  cure  the  spasms  that  are  the  cause  of  the 
animal's  agony.  You  should  give  the  following  drinks 
until  relief  is  obtained.  Take  a  quantity  of  the  stalk  of 
the  wild  bulrush,  which  is  common  in  most  parts  of  the 
country,  and  sometimes  used  for  scouring  purposes;  or  of 
the  root  of  the  plant  commonly  known  as  the  Indian 
gravel  weed,  w'hich  is  found  in  low  and  marshy  ground; 
boil  either  or  both  of  these  together  in  a  kettle,  and  give 
the  horse  a  pint,  two  or  three  times  a  day,  of  the  tea, 
adding  a  little  gin,  and  also  a  spoonful]  of  sup.  carb. 


so  avery's  own  farrier. 

soda,  once  a  day.  This  will  be  most  likely  to  cut  and 
dislodge  the  gravel,  and  relieve  the  horse  from  his  suf- 
fering,* if  not,  try  the  remedy  given  under  the  head  of 
Lithontriptics. 

Cribbing. — This  is  more  a  habit  than  a  disease,  and 
is  generally  acquired  while  young  in  consequence  of 
cutting  teeth,  which  causes  pain  in  the  gums  and  jaws. 
This  habit,  once  acquired,  he  does  not  forget  after  teeth- 
ing, but  continues  to  grow  stronger  with  age.  To  effect 
a  cure  onl}'  requires  to  hitch  him  in  the  middle  of  the 
floor  and  high  up,  so  that  he  can  not  bite  anything,  till 
he  forgets  this  habit,  which  will  not  require  many  days 
to  accomplish.  He  should  be  fed  from  a  basket  hung 
on  his  head,  during  the  time. 

Choking. — It  sometimes  happens  that  a  very  greedy 
horse  gets  choked  while  endeavoring  to  hog  down  dry 
oats  very  fast.  A  quantity  of  oats  get  lodged  in  the 
throat  of  the  animal;  being  unable  to  swallow  them,  if 
he  does  not  throw  them  up  immediately,  they  soon  swell 
and  become  so  hard  that  he  can  not  get  rid  of  them  by 
any  effort  of  his  own,  and  he  must  die  unless  relieved. 

Cure. — When  this  first  happens,  if  he  does  not  thiow 
them  up  in  a  few  moments,  take  a  round  stick  as  large 
as  you  can  get  in  his  mouth  crosswise,  and  tie  it  in  by 
means  of  a  string  at  each  end  running  over  the  head;  and 
if  it  is  possible  for  him  to  throw  them  up  by  coughing 
he  will  do  so;  if  this  does  not  have  the  desired  effect, 
then  hold  his  head  up  as  high  as  you  can»  turn  into  the 
mouth  a  strong  decoction  of  tobacco,  and  make  him  sw^al- 
low  if  possible.  This  sickens  him  and  relaxes  the 
muscles  to  that  degree  that  it  will  give  immediate  re- 


V 


Avery's  own  farrier.  81 

lief.  I  once  knew  this  to  cure  a  horse  that  had  been 
suffering  in  this  situation  for  two  days,  and  was  very 
near  dying;  but  was  relieved  in  a  few  minutes  by  giving 
the  tobacco. 

SWEENY. 

Symptoms. — The  horse  is  lame  in  one  of  his  fore  legs. 
You  should  examine  his  shoulders  carefully,  and  if  he  is 
sweeny,  the  shoulder  on  the  side  he  is  lame  in  will  be 
shriveled  and  not  so  full  as  the  other,  commonly  about 
four  to  six  inches  below  the  withers,  and  will  continue 
to  decrease  as  the  lameness  increases.  This  is  often 
caused  by  keeping  the  horse  checked  too  long  and  too 
high;  by  raising  the  neck  too  high,  strains  on  the  shoulder 
blade — which  causes  too  much  friction  of  the  parts.  It 
is  sometimes  caused  also  by  allowing  the  horse  to  pull  in 
too  wide  a  collar. 

Cure. — Rowel  the  shoulder  where  it  is  fallen  in — 
some  three  or  four  inches  in  length.  A  tarred  rope  is 
best  to  create  inflammation,  as  it  will  do  it  sooner  than 
almost  anything  else.  Leave  it  in  about  ten  days,  occa- 
sionally washing  the  shoulder  with  caraphoretted  spirits, 
and  let  the  horse  have  entire  rest.  But  if  he  is  to  be 
worked  during  treatment  for  this  difficulty,  dispense  with 
the  above,  and  follow  the  directions  given  in  recipe  No. 
81. 


82  avery's  own  fakrier. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TlK)se  who  touch  vermilhon,  become  red;  and  those  who 
touch  ink,  become  black.  So  people  take  their  character  from 
the  class  of  horses  they  keep;  then  who  could  wish  to  keep  or 
drive  an  old  blind  horse. 

THE    EYE. 

The  eye  is  a  very  necessary  and  useful  organ,  the  loss 
of  which  very  much  lessens  the  value  of  the  animal; 
and  when  he  loses  both  he  becomes  worthless.  To  de- 
scribe all  the  various  liabilities  that  the  eye  is  subject  to 
is  unnecessary.  The  eye  is  said  to  be  the  organ  of 
sight,  and  in  one  sense  it  is;  and  in  another  sense  of  the 
word,  the  brain  is  what  sees,  or  divines  things  after  all; 
and  the  eye  the  organ  that  conveys  the  idea  of  shape, 
color  of  objects,  and  intelligence  to  the  brain.  It  is  very 
complicated  in  its  structure,  and  withall  a  very  sensi- 
tive organ,  and  very  liable  to  injuries  from  blows,  whips, 
and  many  other  accidents.  Whenever  a  wound  is  in- 
flicted on  or  about  the  eye,  it  causes  inflammation  sooner 
than  on  almost  any  other  part,  owing  to  its  great  sensi- 
tiveness; and  when  it  is  inflicted  on  the  eye  itself,  or  its 
surrounding  parts,  it  not  only  becomes  inflamed,  but  it 
leaves  what  is  called  a  film  on  the  eye,  which  is  merely 
a  thickening  of  the  fluids  that  are  calculated  to  lubricate 
and  clear  the  eye  from  dirt  accidently  entering  it,  which 
render  the  sight  more  keen.  Now  you  need  not  be 
alarmed  about  ihis,  for  when  it  is  caused  by  a  wound  or 
inflammation,  it  is  as  necessary  to  the  eye,  before  it  can 
heal  and  get  well,  as  the  scab  is  on  any  flesh  wound  be- 


avery's  own  farrier.  83 

fore  that  can  heal.  Before  I  proceed  further,  I  will  give 
you  the  treatment  to  be  observed  in  this  case,  in  order  to 
effect  a  speedy 

Cure. — If  necessary  to  allay  the  swelling  and  inflam- 
mation by  depletion  of  the  paits,  do  it  by  opening  the 
vein  at  the  corner  of  the  eye,  or  bleeding  in  the  nose 
(for  which  directions  will  be  found  in  another  place); 
physic,  and  the  diet  should  be  light  and  of  a  cooling  na- 
ture; bathe  the  eye  and  temples  often  with  cold  water, 
until  the  inflammation  is  subdued;  then  if  there  should 
be  any  film  on  the  eye,  take  fresh  butter  or  lard,  and 
dress  it  in  the  following  manner:  take  it  on  the  end  of 
your  finger,  and  after  chafing  the  temples,  &c.,  you  can 
fill  the  eye  with  this  dressing  easily,  do  this  once  a  day 
until  the  film  disappears,  which  will  not  be  more  than  a 
week  at  longest;  and,  generally  speaking,  one  or  two 
dressings  will  be  sufficient. 

There  are  other  causes  of  blindness,  one  of  which  is  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  hooks  or  haw  of  the  eye. 
Much  has  been  said  and  written  on  this  subject,  and 
some  of  the  old  masters  have  contended  that  the  film  or 
cataract,  in  case  of  hooks,  was  a  thickening  of  the 
second  membrane  of  the  eye,  and  used  to  resort  to  (what 
they  called)  a  surgical  operation  of  the  eye  to  remove 
it,  by  which  many  a  valuable  horse  has  been  sacrificed; 
while  others  have  described  it  thus,  which  I  think  ap- 
proximates a  little  nearer  the  truth;  they  say  the  horse 
has  a  membrane,  peculiar  to  the  animal,  which  is  drawn 
at  pleasure  over  the  eye,  to  clear  it  of  dirt  accidentally 
entering  it,  the  enlargement  of  which,  by  inflammation, 
produces  what  is  called  hooks.     You  have  now  only  to 


84  avery's  own  farrier. 

listen  a  few  moments,  to  learn  what  my  views  are  in  re- 
lation to  this  membrane,  and  disease  of  the  eye. 

The  fact  is,  that  instead  of  this  membrane,  as  it  has 
been  called  and  described  above — the  hoise  has  a  tube 
or  sack  (which  answers  a  similar  purpose  to  the  eye,  as 
the  oil  sack  found  on  the  rump  of  fowls  does  them,  that 
we  often  see  them  oil  their  feathers  from),  that  is  situated 
in  the  corner  of  each  eye,  and  from  which  oozes,  by  the 
motion  of  the  eye,  a  liquid  or  oil}'  substance,  which  tends 
to  moisten  the  eye  and  render  the  sight  more  keen  and 
nice,  as  well  as  to  assist  in  clearing  the  eye  from  dirt 
accidentally  entering  it — and  also  another  tube  which 
conveys  the  tear,  as  I  shall  call  it  here,  to  the  nose,  &c. ; 
and  whenever  these  tubes  are  closed,  or  an  even  flow  of 
the  matter  therein  contained  is  checked,  by  inflammation 
or  fever,  as  they  often  are,  the  eye  looks  glassy,  or  has 
the  appearance  of  film.  The  primary  causes,  however, 
are  various,  as  being  kept  in  dark  stables,  and  then  led 
out  to  a  full  glare  of  light;  filthy  and  ill-ventilated  ones, 
where  the  horse  is  obliged  to  stand  enveloped  in  the 
gases  that  arise  from  the  excrements,  &c.;  with  many 
others  that  might  be  mentioned;  and  one  of  which  is, 
the  horse  from  two  to  six  years  of  age  is  subject  to  have 
what  are  commonly  called  wolf  teeth,  which  come  in 
front  and  close  to  the  grinders,  and  in  fact  is  one,  of 
those  they  shed,  of  the  upper  jaw;  and  is  a  small  round 
tooth  which  sometimes  causes  blindness  by  the  pressure 
on  the  nerve  leading  to  the  eye.  The  blindness  caused 
in  this  way  come  on  more  gradually,  however,  than 
when  caused  by  inflammation.  So  whenever  the  sight 
becomes  dim  or  imperfect  (at  this  age),  it  will  be  well 


avery's  own  farrier.  85 

to  examine  and  see  if  he  has  these  teeth,  if  so,  pull  them 
out;  for  there  will  be  no  harm  done,  if  this  be  not  the 
cause. 

Cure, — For  hooks,  if  the  cause  does  not  proceed  from 
the  teeth,  it  only  requires  a  strict  adherence  to  the  rules 
given  above  for  film;  applying  mullen  oil  occasionally 
to  the  eye.  A  very  soothing  and  beneficial  wash  for 
the  eye  is  made  by  ciixing  honey  and  rose  water;  or  if 
there  is  much  inflammation  of  the  eye  or  surrounding 
parts,  anoint  about  the  eye  and  temples  w^ith  an  ointment 
made  by  simmering  the  blue  flag  root  in  lard.  The  use 
of  the  lard,  or  these  oils,  supplies  the  deficiency  of  the 
natural  fluid,  or  oil  of  the  eye,  and  thus  assists  nature  in 
restoring  the  organ  to  health,  and  in  removing  the  film; 
which  accounts  for  the  beneficial  effects  of  those  articles. 

A  blind  horse  (or  one  partially  so)  in  both  eyes,  by 
any  defect  or  disease  coming  on,  will  usually  keep  his 
ears  in  constant  and  rapid  motion;  and  on  being  led  from 
the  stable  into  a  stronger  light,  he  will  raise  his  head 
and  squint  alternately;  which  denotes  weakness  or  dis- 
ease of  the  eye.  And  if  entirely  blind,  or  nearly  so,  he 
will  lift  his  feet  high,  as  though  he  was  going  to  step 
over  something,  when  really  there  is  nothing  to  obstruct 
his  passage,  and  there  will  be  an  evident  uncertainty 
where  he  is  going  to  put  his  feet  down.  But  when  the 
blindness  is  confined  to  one  eye  alone,  there  is  little  or 
nothing  of  this  characteristic  gait  to  be  perceived.  And 
the  loss  of  one  eye  only,  does  not  materially  injure  him 
for  ordinary  business. 

In  cases  of  confirmed  film  or  cataract  of  the  eye,  there 

have  been  various  remedies  employed  for  their  removal, 

8 


86 


A\ERY  S    OWN   FARRIER. 


and  generally  with  ill  success.  Some  have  used  for  this 
purpose,  chalk,  salt,  ashes,  vitriol,  and  even  pounded 
glass;  the  effect  of  which  is  only  to  recall  the  inflamma- 
tion previously  attending  it,  and  is  utterly  barbarous. 
But  when  you  are  determined  to  kill  or  cure,  I  will  tell 
you  of  a  remedy  that  is  better  and  more  certain  to  effect 
the  object,  although  it  may  seem  to  you  as  barbarous  as. 
the  former.  There  is  this  consolation  about  it,  it  is  of 
less  duration;  and  the  very  moment  it  has  done  its  work 
you  can  relieve  the  animal  from  further  pain,  and  he  en- 
joys his  sight  again;  and  then  again  there  can  nothing 
give  pain  to  the  eye  itself,  until  it  penetrates  the  cata- 
ract. 

Cure. — ^'Fill  the  eye,  by  means  of  a  quill,  with  strong 
and  newly  slackened  lime.  Let  it  remain  in  the  eye 
until  the  film  is  worked  up  sufficiently  to  be  removed 
(which  will  be  but  a  few  minutes),  then  remove  it, 
together  wath  all  the  lime  and  dirt  that  may  be  in  the 
eye,  by  means  of  a  piece  of  soft  sponge,  wet  in  sharp 
vinegar.  This  kills  the  life  of  the  lime  at  once,  and 
prevents  it  from  doing  further  injury,  and  the  film  is  off. 
If  this  should  create  any  inflammation,  observe  the  above 
rules — that  is,  wash  often  with  cold  water,  occasionally 
applying  hen's  oil,  or  any  of  the  above,  to  prevent  the 
film  from  returning. 

There  is  still  another  species  of  blindness,  which  is 
commonly  known  as  being  moon  blind,  which  has  never 
been  satisfactorily  accounted  for;  it  appears,  however, 
to  affect  the  sight  of  the  horse  mostly  in  the  night,  and 
its  periodical  returns  has  led  many  to  suppose  that  it 
was  influenced   by  that  planet;  but  I  can  see  no  good 


avery's  own  farrier.  87 

reason  for  coming  to  any  such  conclusion.  I  think  it 
must  be  brought  on  either  by  inflammation  or  fevers, 
imperfectly  cured;  or  its  origin  can  be  traced  to  some  of 
the  foregoing  causes  of  blindness;  or  else  it  must  origin- 
ate from  some  natural  defect  of  the  organs  of  sight,  for 
which  there  is  no  remedy.  Notwithstanding,  if  you 
should  become  satisfied  that  it  arose  from  the  effects  of 
any  other  disease,  as  too  great  a  determination  of  blood 
to  the  head,  or  concussion  of  the  brain,  or  any  other  de- 
rangement of  the  system,  I  would  recommend  lowering 
and  equalizing  the  circulation  of  blood,  by  bleeding,  and 
giving  him  a  cooling  diet,  at  those  periods  when  he  was 
most  affected  with  the  disease. 

LOSS    OF    APPETITE. 

I" have  been  frequently  asked  what  is  good  to  give  a 
horse  an  appetite,  the  owner  adding,  my  horse  don't  eat 
good,  &c.  Now,  this  is  owing  to  a  want  of  change  in 
the  animal's  food,  dirty  manger,  mouldy  fodder;  or  is 
the  forerunner  of  some  disease  that  will  soon  make  itself 
known  by  the  symptoms  thereof.  If  any  of  the  former, 
remove  the  cause  immediately.  He  may  or  may  not, 
need  a  mild  dose  of  salts;  but  he  should  have  salt  to  lick 
regularly,  and  have  a  little  asafoetida  placed  in  the  bot- 
tom of  his  manger,  or  on  his  bit.  Either  of  the  follow- 
ing has  a  tendency  to  whet  the  appetite,  and  give  relish 
to  his  food.  Give  him  a  little  cayenne  pepper  in  his 
food;  or  give  him  horse-radish  roots  grated  fine,  in  his 
food,  of  which  he  soon  becomes  very  fond;  or  you  may 
give  him  a  spoonfull  of  pure,  ground  mustard,  in  a  like 
manner,  for   whatever  assists  the  digestive  organs,  im- 


88  avery's  own  farrier. 

pro"ves  the  appetite.     It  is  not  what  we  eat  that  makes 

us  strong,  but  what  we  digest. 

When  you  have  done  this,  give  him  clean  oats  and  hay, 
And  he  will  no  longer  be  troubled  in  this  way. 

THE   LAMPASS. 

Cause. — Cutting  teeth  and  indigestion  in  young  horses; 
and  in  old  ones,  it  is  owing  to  the  teeth  being  worn  off 
short  and  uneven,  whereby  the  mouth  is  irritated  and 
becomes  swollen  in  the  effort  to  masticate  his  food. 

Symptoms. — Swelling  of  the  mouth  and  palate;  and 
he  eats  daintily,  in  consequence  of  the  gum  being  below 
the  teeth. 

Cure. — Bleed  in  the  mouth,  by  pricking  several  places 
in  the  gum,  just  back  of  the  pincher  teeth,  with  a  sharp 
pointed  knife,  and  give  physic.  If  this  does  not  have 
the  desired  effect,  then  sear  them  down  with  a  red  hot 
iron;  burning  the  lampass  just  below  the  level  of  the 
teeth,  being  careful  not  to  let  the  hot  iron  touch  the 
teeth,  nor  to  burn  the  gums  but  very  little  below  the 
face  of  them,  for  by  so  doing  you  cause  a  hole  after  it 
heals  up  that  will  always  make  him  drop  his  grain  while 
eating,  more  or  less,  through  life.  They  should  never  be 
hooked  out  deep  with  a  hot  iron,  as  some  have  been  in 
the  habit  of  doing.  After  they  have  been  properly 
seared  down,  the  horse  should  have  salt  and  bran  to  lick 
every  day  until  it  has  healed  up,  and  he  will  improve  in 
condition  with  remarkable  rapidity. 


^ 


avery's  own  farrier.  89 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    PULSE,    INFLAMMATION    AND    BLEEDING. 

The  vessels  which  carry  the  blood  from  the  heart,  are 
called  arteries;  and  the  vessels  that  convey  the  blood 
back  again,  after  it  has  been  carried  to  the  different  parts 
of  the  body  by  the  arteries,  are  called  veins.  The  yield- 
ing of  the  artery  to  the  gush  of  blood  forced  into  it  by 
the  contraction  of  the  heart,  constitutes  the  pulse.  It 
is  a  very  useful  assistant  in  determining  the  nature  and 
violence  of  disease;  and  in  order  to  be  benefited  by  its 
motion  in  disease,  it  is  necessary  to  know  how  often  it 
beats  in  health.  The  number  of  pulsations  in  any  artery 
will  give  the  number  of  beatings  of  the  heart,  and  thereby 
denote  the  irritation  of  that  organ,  and  the  system  gene- 
rally. A  common  sized  horse  when  in  health,  pulsates 
from  thirty-six  to  thirty-eight  in  a  minute;  and  smaller 
ones  forty  and  over  per  minute.  This  is  considered  to 
be  the  standard  pulse  of  the  horse.  When  it  does  not 
beat  much  oftener  than  this,  there  can  not  be  anything 
very  serious  to  contend  with  in  the  form  of  inflammation 
or  fever. 

The  number  of  beatings  may  be  ascertained  by  hold- 
ing the  hand  on  the  side,  or  on  the  plate  vein;  but  this 
is  not  all  we  would  like  to  know;  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  quantity  of  blood,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  flows 
through  the  vein,  which  is  very  essential,  we  must  press 
the  artery  against  some  hard  substance.  The  most  con- 
venient place  to  feel  the  pulse  for  this  purpose,  is  at  the 
lower  jaw,  a  little  behind  the  spot  where  the  submaxil- 


90  avery's  own  farrier. 

lary  artery  and  vein,  and  the  parotid  duet  comes  from 
the  under  jaw.  There  the  number  of  pulsations  can  be 
easily  counted,  and  the  character  of  the  pulse,  a  matter 
of  equal  importance,  be  clearly  ascertained.  When  the 
pulse  beats  from  fifty  to  fifty-five,  there  is  considerable 
fever;  and  when  it  reaches  from  seventy  to  eighty,  it  in- 
dicates a  dangerous  state  of  affairs.  Few  horses  long 
survive  a  pulse  of  one  hundred;  for,  by  this  excessive 
action,  the  energies  of  nature  are  speedily  worn  out.  A 
quick  pulse  indicates  irritation  and  fever;  a  slow  pulse 
accompanies  every  malady  connected  with  a  difficulty  of 
nervous  energy.  The  heart  may  not  only  be  excited  to 
more  frequent,  but  also  to  more  violent  actions;  then  we 
have  the  hard  pulse,  the  sure  indicator  of  considerable 
fever,  which  warrants  the  immediate  use  of  the  lancet. 
Sometimes  the  pulse  may  be  hard  and  jerking,  and  yet 
small;  the  stream,  though  forcible,  is  not  great;  the  heart 
is  so  irritable  that  it  contracts  before  the  ventricle  is  pro- 
perly filled;  this  indicates  a  dangerous  state  of  disease; 
it  generally  accompanies  inflammation  of  the  bowels, 
&c.  A  weak  pulse  denotes  a  feeble  action  of  the  heart, 
and  is  expressive  of  great  debility,  w^hen  the  horse  should 
not  be  bled  on  any  account.  The  oppressed  pulse  is 
when  the  arteries  seem  to  be  fully  distended  with  blood, 
without  that  distinct  pulsation  as  in  health.  There  is 
obstruction  somew^here,  and  the  heart  can  hardly  force 
the  stream  along,  or  communicate  pulsation  to  the  cur- 
rent. This  is  the  case  in  sudden  inflammation  of  the 
lungs;  they  are  overloaded  and  gorged  with  blood,  which 
can  not  find  its  way  through  their  minute  vessels.  This 
accounts  for  copious  bleeding  being  so  beneficial  in  this 


Avery's  own  farrier.  91 

disease.  By  increasing  a  pulse  previously  oppressed,  a 
portion  being  removed  from  the  distended  and  choked 
vessels,  the  remaining  blood  is  able  to  flow  on. 

Injiamination. — Is  either  local  or  general.  When  lo- 
cal, it  makes  itself  known  by  redness,  swelling,  heat, 
and  pain,  and  should  be  allayed  by  equalizing  the  heat 
and  circulation  of  the  system;  increasing  the  internal 
heat,  and  cooling  the  external  with  soothing  and  sweat- 
ing applications.  Jt  does  not  generally  become  ne- 
cessary to  bleed  for  local  inflammation  unless  it  be  of 
some  important  organ,  as  the  brain  or  lungs;  but  if  it 
should  become  necessary,  as  of  the  eye,  feet  or  legs,  I 
would  do  so  at  the  most  convenient  place  nearest  to  the 
inflamed  part,  for  this  will  benefit  the  horse  and  the  part 
diseased  more,  even  though  you  do  not  take  one-fourth 
part  as  much  blood  as  you  would  by  a  general  bleeding. 
(See  directions  for  local  bleeding,  &c.) 

When  inflammation  becomes  general,  it  must  be  pre- 
ceded by  some  considerable  degree  of  fever,  which  ac- 
companies it.  Bleeding  may  be  needed  in  the  early 
stages,  or  may  not,  which  must  be  decided  upon  by  the 
one  in  attendance,  as  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  lay 
down  a  general  rule  here,  that  would  be  applicable  in 
all  cases  and  under  all  circumstances.  If  the  object  is 
to  merely  diminish  the  momentum  of  circulation,  you 
can  do  it  by  this  quicker  than  by  any  other  means;  but 
it  is  always  safest  not  to  hazard  too  much  by  so  doing. 

BLEEDING. 

This  is  an  important  operation,  and  should  be  done 
with  nicety  and  skill.     It  is  performed  with  a  fleam  or  a 


92  avery's  own  farrier. 

lancet,  the  fleam  being  the  most  common  instrument  in 
use,  and  the  safest,  in  unexperienced  hands.  However, 
the  spring  fleam  is  preferable  to  any  other  instrument  for 
this  purpose,  especially  for  general  bleeding.  It  is  so 
constructed  that  it  may  be  set  so  as  to  cut  any  desirable 
depth,  to  suit  a  thick  or  a  thin  skin,  while  it  obviates  all 
difficulties  arising  from  the  vein  rolling,  by  the  animal's 
starting,  &c.  And  then  you  can  dispense  with  the  blood 
stick  and  blindfolding  altogether,  and  the  incision  is 
made  with  more  certainty.  When  inflammation  rages, 
whether  it  be  local  or  general,  and  we  can  not  lower  the 
circulation  by  giving  medicine,  bathing  or  sweating  (as 
in  the  human),  from  one  to  four  quarts  of  blood  may  be 
taken  with  safety,  but  not  more  than  about  one  gallon 
should  be  taken  at  once,  unless  in  extreme  cases,  and  it 
should  be  made  to  run  freely.  For  general  bleeding,  the 
neck  vein,  or  jugular,  may  be  selected  (it  being  the  most 
convenient),  about  two  or  three  inches  below  the  union 
of  the  two  portions  of  the  jugular  at  the  angle  of  the 
jaw.  The  incision  should  be  made  in  a  straight  line 
with  the  artery,  and  care  should  be  taken  not  to  cut 
through  the  opposite  side  from  which  you  make  the  in- 
cision; after  bleeding,  equal  care  should  be  observed  to 
bring  the  margins  of  the  wound  together  without  pulling 
the  skin  out  so  as  to  leave  a  space  for  the  blood  to  fill, 
which  is  sometimes  attended  with  bad  consequences. 
Put  a  sharp  pin  through  the  centre  of  the  wound,  and 
close  to  the  edge  of  the  skin,  then  wind  around  the  in- 
side of  this,  tow  or  hair  from  the  mane  sufficient  to  stop 
the  blood;  bathe  the  parts  with  cold  water,  and  when 
united  sufficiently,  withdraw  the  pin. 


avery's  own  farrier.  93 

Youatt,  who  is  good  authority,  says  the  operator 
should  catch  the  blood  in  some  vessel  for  that  purpose, 
in  order  to  be  able  to  judge  as  to  its  quantity  and  quali- 
ty. If  after  it  has  coagulated,  a  light  buff  colored  jelly 
forms  on  the  surface,  and  the  crassamentum  or  coagu- 
lated lymph  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  instead  of  red,  it 
is  an  evidence  of  the  inflammatory  state  of  the  blood, 
which  warrants  a  second  bleeding,  after  a  sufficient  time 
to  know  that  the  first  did  not  have  the  desired  effect. 
Blood  drawn  from  a  healthy  horse  very  soon  coagulates 
and  appears  like  uniformly  red  jelly,  with  a  small  quan- 
tity of  fluid  resembling  water  floating  on  the  surface 
that  consists  of  two  parts — the  red  jelly,  termed  crassa- 
mentum, and  the  water  or  serum.  "  The  former  may  be 
separated  into  two  parts,  by  washing  the  red  globules, 
and  the  coagulated  lymph,  although  this  may  not  always 
be  a  certain  criterion  to  go  by."  In  extreme  cases  of 
inflammation,  the  state  of  the  pulse  should  be  carefully 
regarded  during  the  operation  of  bleeding;  the  most  ex- 
perienced can  not  tell  what  quantity  of  blood  to  take  to 
produce  the  desired  effect;  the  change  of  the  pulse  alone 
will  indicate  when  the  object  is  accomplished.  The 
operator  should  have  his  finger  on  the  artery  during  the 
act  or  time  of  bleeding,  and,  comparatively  regardless 
of  quantity,  continue  to  take  blood  until  (in  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs)  the  oppressed  pulse  becomes  more 
distinct. 

For  local  bleeding,  the  operation  is  simple,  and  yet 
requires  to  be  done  with  equal  nicety  and  skill;  for  it  is 
generally  to  be  performed  with  a  lancet,  or  sharp  pointed 
knife,  the  use  of  which  is  even  more  difficult  than  that 


94  avery's  own  farrier. 

of  the  fleam.  In  local  diseases  about  the  head  or  eyes, 
the  angular  vein  near  the  corner  of  the  eye  is  a  conven- 
ient place,  or  the  nose  and  mouth  may  be  selected;  if 
you  would  like  to  take  blood  from  the  mouth,  the  third 
wrinkle  from  the  incisor  teeth  may  be  chosen  to  advan- 
tage. From  the  nose,  it  may  be  obtained  by  taking  hold 
of  the  upper  lip  with  one  hand,  and  with  a  sharp  pointed 
penknife  in  the  other — running  it  quite  through  the  sep- 
tum, just  below  the  nasal  bone;  striking  the  artery  that 
leads  to  the  extremity  of  the  nose;  you  will  find  no  diffi- 
culty in  getting  all  the  blood  you  can  desire.  If  he 
should  bleed  too  much,  however,  you  have  only  to  tie  his 
head  up  high  for  a  short  time,  and  it  will  stop. 

For  inflammation  in  the  shoulder,  or  surrounding  parts, 
select  the  plate  vein  as  it  comes  from  the  inside  of  the 
arm  and  leads  up  towards  the  bosom;  if  behind,  take  the 
corresponding  one  on  the  inside  of  the  thigh,  or  tap  the 
same  on  the  flank  or  abdomen,  as  the  case  may  require. 
For  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  the  legs,  &c.,  or  fever 
in  the  feet,  select  the  feet  and  fetlock. 

There  is  this  consideration  about  bleeding,  that  is 
worth  keeping  in  view.  It  has  become  a  settled  princi- 
ple in  the  animal  economy  (and  by  good  authority), 
that  by  bleeding  the  process  of  inflammation  can  be 
checked  or  suspended  for  a  while;  although  it  may  re- 
turn, it  is  never  with  the  same  degree  of  violence  as 
before,  and  in  many  cases  it  is  got  rid  of  entirely  by  a 
timely  bleeding. 

FEVER. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  fever  to  be  noticed  here,  which 
I  will  describe  in  the  language  of  my  predecessors,  viz: 


Avery's  own  farrier.  95 

The  first  is  pure  or  simple  fever,  which  is  generally 
increased  arterial  action,  either  without  any  local  affec- 
tion, or  in  consequence  of  the  sympathy  of  the  system 
with  inflammation  in  some  particular  part.  The  second 
is  sympathetic,  and  is  increased  arterial  action,  proceed- 
ing from' some  local  cause;  the  treatment  of  which  will 
be  the  same  as  that  of  other  fevers,  except  that  particu- 
lar attention  should  be  paid  to  the  state  of  that  part  ori- 
ginally diseased.  Fever  is  heat  of  the  parts  to  which  it 
appears,  oi  of  the  whole  when  it  becomes  general.  The 
immediate  causes  may  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  descrip- 
tion; and  horses  are  subject  to  but  few  disorders  which 
are  not  accompanied  with  more  or  less  fever.  Fever  of 
parts  may  be  occasioned  by  blows,  strains,  kicks,  or 
wounds  of  any  kind,  the  remedies  of  which  will  be  found 
in  another  place.  Fever  of  the  whole  surface  often  oc- 
curs by  reason  of  taking  cold,  when  the  internal  organs 
are  cold  and  inactive,  and  then  the  pores  of  the  skin  will 
be  closed,  dry  and  hot.  Why?  Because  perspiration  is 
checked,  the  primary  causes  of  which  may  be  seen  by 
reading  the  chapter  on  colds,  &c.  This  should  be  care- 
fully guarded  against.  The  remedies  also  for  the  same 
may  be  given,  with  a  diaphoretic,  which  will  equalize 
the  circulation,  and  set  the  whole  machine  in  good  work- 
ing order  again.  Fevers  of  this  kind  are  generally 
caused  by  colds,  for  cold  is  the  opposite  of  heat,  and  heat 
is  fever.  Fever  may  degenerate  into  inflammation,  and 
concentrate  on  some  important  organ,  as  the  brain,  lungs, 
midriff,  or  bowels,  and  kill  your  horse;  but  no  horse  ever 
died  of  pure  fever  alone. 

Symptoms. — After  the  fever  has  become  general,  the 


96  avery's  own  farrier. 

horse  will  be  seen  to  range  from  one  end  of  his  rack  to 
the  other,  his  flanks  work  more  than  in  health,  the  eyes 
look  red,  his  breath  is  hot  and  smells;  he  drops  his  hay 
after  chewing.  But  there  is  no  pawing,  and  generally 
no  cough,  nor  looking  around  to  the  sides.  The  pulse  is 
quicker  than  usual,  by  counting  which  the  degree  of  fe- 
ver may  be  determined.  In  cases  of  pure  fever  he  some- 
times has  a  shivering  fit  which  returns  at  nearly  the  same 
hour  every  day,  and  lasts  for  several  days,  or  until  local 
inflammation  appears,  or  the  fever  subsides;  his  urine  is 
very  red,  and  he  stales  with  difficulty,  the  excrement 
being  small  and  often  slimy,  as  in  inflammation  and  can- 
ker of  the  bowels,  attending  fever;  one  leg  being  hot 
and  the  others  cold,  or  one  being  cold  and  the  others  hot, 
indicate  a  degree  of  fever. 

Cwe. — In  the  early  stages  of  fever  give  the  following 
drinks  as  directed  for  colds,  viz:  the  hot  drops,  or  cay- 
enne pepper  tea;  this  drives  out  the  cold  by  increasing 
the  inward  heat.  Give  diuretics  to  promote  the  urine, 
and  diaphoretics  to  create  perspiration,  for  these  are  the 
two  principal  outlets  by  which  relief  is  to  be  obtained; 
and  when  not  relieved  in  this  manner,  bleed  freely  for 
fear  of  its  running  into  inflammation;  after  this,  give 
frequent  drinks  of  tea  made  by  steeping  the  tops  of  the 
common  spearmint,  or  of  bee  balm,  adding  a  little  cam- 
phoretted  spirits. 


avery's  own  farrier.  97 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  all-wise  Creator — the  author  and  preserver  of  the  uni- 
verse— so  arranged  matters  that  is  natural  for  ice  to  rise  and 
float  on  the  water.  Had  it  been  otherwise  it  would  have  sunk 
to  the  bottom  of  the  stream,  and  continued  doing  so  until  it 
would  have  destroyed  this  beautiful  world  of  his.  And  he  has 
not  been  less  benevolent  with  the  creatures  he  has  placed  here. 
For,  unless  they  abuse  the  Jaws  of  nature,  either  in  producing 
or  in  the  treatment  of  disease,  there  is  a  balance  of  power  left 
in  their  favor. 

DERANGEMENT  OF  THE  STOMACH  AND  BOWELS. 

The  stomach  sometimes  gets  disordered  and  becomes 
inactive,  by  eating  improper  food  and  being  overloaded, 
which  overtaxes  its  capacities  for  digestion;  and  is  this  to 
be  wondered  at?  It  causes  a  slight  degree  of  fever,  and 
irritation  of  the  parts,  &c.;  and  sometimes  occasions 
cramp  of  the  stomach,  which  is  often  taken  for  colic. 

Symptoms. — Great  drowsiness,  low  pulse,  cold  ears, 
easily  fatigued,  causing  either  looseness  or  costiveness  of 
the  bowels. 

Cure. — If  the  former  prevails,  take  a  large  spoonfull 
each  of  peppermint  essence,  spirits  of  camphor,  and 
ground  mustard;  put  them  in  a  pint  of  warm  water,  and 
turn  the  whole  down  the  horse.  Or,  if  this  be  not  at 
hand,  give  him  two  spoonsfull  of  pulverized  charcoal  in 
the  same  quantity  of  water;  if  this  medicine  requires  to 
be  repeated,  add  a  spoonfull  of  the  tincture  of  laudanum; 
but  if  the  bowels  are  in  a  state  of  costiveness,  after  giving 

9 


98  avery's  own  farrier. 

the  above,  give  physic,  clothe  warm,  and  rub  the  legs 
well,  not  forgetting  to  regulate  the  food  according  to  the 
demands  of  the  stomach. 

WIND    COLIC. 

Symptoms. — The  horse  is  very  restless,  often  lying 
down  and  then  starting  up  again;  he  will  strike  his  belly 
with  his  hind  feet,  refuses  to  eat,  and  generally  bloats 
unless  he  finds  relief. 

Cure.— Take  a  piece  of  white  chalk  the  size  of  a  small 
hen's  egg;  pulverize  this  and  put  it  in  a  quart  bottle; 
and  when  you  are  ready  to  turn  it  down  him,  fill  the 
bottle  up  with  good  vinegar,  and  let  the  horse  drink  it 
immediately.  The  elfervescence  of  these  two  ingredients 
is  such  that  the  bottle  will  not  long  contain  them  after 
being  mixed.  After  the  operation  of  this  medicine 
(which  will  not  be  long,  for  it  is  pretty  sure  fire),  it  will 
be  well  to  give  the  horse  some  stimulus,  or  warming 
medicine,  such  as  whiskey  and  pepper,  or  add  to  his  food 
a  little  mustard  or  ginger.  The  chalk  and  vinegar  are 
not  beneficial  so  much  for  their  purgative  properties,  for 
they  contain  none,  although  the  horse  seldom  retains 
them  much  longer  than  the  bottle  does;  but  it  neutral- 
izes the  gases  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  which  are  the 
cause  of  the  bloat  and  distress  that  attend  them  in  this 
complaint.  It  generally  has  about  the  same  effect  when 
the  horse  is  in  trouble  in  consequence  of  eating  too  much 
Indian  meal  which  has  baked  in  the  maw,  &c.,  which  has 
destroyed  great  numbers  of  them  in  this  country;  it  neu- 
tralizes or  loosens  the  whole  mass,  and  thus  gives  relief. 


•  avery's  own  farrier.  99 

bilious  or  inflammatory  colic. 

Symptoms. — This  kind  of  colic,  besides  most  of  the 
former,  is  accompanied  with  fever  and  great  heat.  The 
horse  sweats  and  pants,  the  mouth  is  dry,  and  he  appears 
to  be  in  great  distress,  without  those  intervals  of  ease 
that  generally  accompany  other  colics.  It  is  caused  by 
a  cramp  or  contraction  of  the  tube  that  conveys  the  bile 
from  the  liver  to  the  stomach  and  intestines,  and  is  a 
very  dangerous,  as  well  as  distressing  complaint.  Some 
people  have  thought  heretofore  that  the  horse  had  no 
gall  bladder,  because  they  did  not  see  any  on  the  liver; 
if  they  will  take  the  trouble  to  cut  that  organ  open,  they 
may  find  one  inside  of  it.  This  shows  the  great  wisdom 
of  the  creator  in  shielding  it  from  rupture  that  might  be 
caused  by  the  feats  the  horse  is  sometimes  required  to 
perform. 

Cure. — Here  is  a  composition  I  have  used  for  this 
complaint  with  the  best  success.  Take  equal  parts  of 
gum,  myrrh,  mace,  cinnamon,  cloves,  ginger  and  saf- 
fron— half  an  ounce  of  each,  and  two  ounces  of  soco- 
trine  aloesj  pulverize  these  and  mix  altogether.  This 
will  make  a  pint  or  over,  in  all;  give  the  horse  for  a 
dose,  two  large  tablespoonsfull,  mix  with  water  and 
sweeten  with  molasses,  which  will  be  most  likely  to  give 
relief  in  fifteen  minutes;  if  it  does  not,  however,  within 
one  hour,  you  may  repeat  the  dose.  This  is  an  excellent 
medicine  for  any  disease  of  the  stomach  and  bowels 
where  a  purgative  is  needed,  and  should  always  be  kept 
on  hand. 


100  avery's  own  farrier.  • 

spasmodic  colic. 

This  differs  somewhat  from  the  former,  in  being  an 
affection  of  the  muscular  coating  of  the  intestines  or 
bowels,  characterized  by  acute  pain,  with  occasional 
intermissions,  with  spasmodic  contractions  of  the  tissue 
of  the  bowels,  and  of  the  sphincters  of  the  bladder  and 
rectum.  The  predisposing  cause  of  this  kind  of  coltc, 
as  well  as  in  dry  or  red  colic,  as  it  is  called,  may  be  the 
impairment  of  the  digestive  organs,  caused  by  an  im- 
proper or  irregular  diet,  such  as  eating  greedily  of  new 
o-rain,  Indian  corn,  &c.;  but  the  exciting  cause  is  gene- 
rally  the  drinking  largely  of  cold  water,  when  heated, 
or  exposure  to  wet  or  cold;  or  anything  that  will  depress 
the  vital  energy  of  the  intestines,  either  directly  or  by 
sympathy. 

Symptoms. — Violent  attacks  and  great  agony;  at  the 
intervals  of  ease  he  stands  up  and  eats  his  food;  the 
pulse  not  much  altered  at  the  onset;  the  extremities  not 
necessarily  cold  as  in  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  This 
disease  is  either  to  be  combated  by  giving  stimulants  to 
restore  or  excite  the  natural  action  of  the  stomach  and 
bowels,  or  to  allay  the  spasms  by  anodynes  or  anti-spas- 
modics. 

Cure, — Take  one  ounce  of  spirits  of  turpentine — beat 
two  or  three  yolks  of  hen's  eggs  with  it,  then  add  half 
an  ounce  of  peppermint  essence  and  a  spoonfull  of  cay- 
enne; give  it  to  the  horse  in  a  pint  of  water.  If  the 
spasms  return,  wait  a  reasonable  time;  and  if  they  con- 
tinue, give  a  dose  of  the  following — say  two  ounces  of 
each:    tincture   of    opium   (paregoric)    and    spirits   of 


Avery's  own  farrier.  101 

camphor,  in  a  pint  of  water.  If  this  has  to  be  repeated, 
add  one  ounce  of  sulphuric  ether.  Bleeding  may  be 
necessary  to  prevent  inflammation,  when  the  state  of  the 
pulse  will  warrant  it. 

THE     RED     COLIC    (eNTERITIs). 

The  characteristics  of  this  disease  are  similar  to  that 
of  derangement  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  in  its  more 
advanced  stages.  Its  appearance  is  manifested  by  a 
more  gradual  approach,  and  lingering  disease,  than  that 
of  spasmodic  colic,  which  may  be  present  after  this  has 
disappeared;  the  horse  may  be  drooping  for  several 
days,  and  much  inclined  to  lie  down,  refusing  his  food, 
only  at  intervals,  looking  towards  his  flanks  as  express- 
ive of  the  seat  of  pain,  &c.  These  symptoms  are  much 
the  same  as  when  he  is  laboring  under  the  effects  of  a 
slow  poison.  It  is  very  difficult  sometimes  to  distinguish 
between  this  colic  and  inflammation  of  the  bowels;  the 
pulse  must  be  resorted  to  for  this  purpose.  This,  like 
the  former,  is  often  accompanied  with  contractions  of 
the  sphincters  of  the  bladder  and  rectum;  and  in  either 
case  diuretics  should  not  be  given,  as  they  will  prove  in- 
jurious. At  times  daring  the  paroxysms,  as  in  the 
above,  a  few  drops  only  of  urine  may  be  voided,  show- 
ing the  spasmodic  action  of  the  bladder;  generally  stal- 
ing may  be  considered  a  favorable  symptom,  for  it  shows 
the  urinary  organs  to  be  relaxed.  Scouring  is  often  a 
forerunner  of  this  disease,  though  the  reverse  of  this  is 
sometimes  the  case. 

Cure. — Treat  in  the  first  place  as  in  spasmodic  colic, 
and  if  he  should  scour  afterwards,  you  may  give  him  a 


102  avery's  own  farrier. 

dose  of  the  tincture  of  opium  and  ether,  or  a  quart  of 
the  hemlock  bark  decoction. 

If  the  horse  is  very  costive,  warm  and  oily  clysters 
will  be  useful,  and  in  some  cases  back  raking  may  be 
necessary  to  remove  the  indurated  fceces,  by  the  insertion 
of  a  smal]  hand.  Gently  moving  the  animal  about,  and 
friction  of  the  belly  often  helps  the  operation  of  medi- 
cine, and  relieves  him  from  pain.  But  in  cases  of  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels  or  lungs,  exercise  causes  pain  and 
distress.  And  then  again  there  is  this  difference  between 
colic  and  inflammation:  with  the  colic  the  strength  of 
the  animal  is  not  much  lessened,  while  with  inflamma- 
tion he  grows  gradually  weaker  and  weaker.  In  all 
bowel  complaints,  of  whatever  description,  sage  tea  is 
an  excellent  drink. 

DIARRHOEA,    DYSENTERY,  OR    SCOURING. 

The  cause  of  the  above  diseases  are  also  various;  it 
proceeds  sometimes  from  foul  feeding,  hard  exercise, 
sudden  heat  or  cold,  causing  an  overflow  of  bile,  indi- 
gestion, and  weakness  of  the  intestines.  The  symptoms 
I  need  not  speak  of  further  than  this:  when  fairly  set  in, 
these  diseases  weaken,  run  him  down,  and  finally  wear 
him  out,  sooner  than  almost  any  other  disease  that  takes 
hold  of  the  horse.  And  yet  some  will  tell  you  that  this 
must  not  be  checked  too  sudden,  or  stopped  immediately, 
while  others  will  bleed,  and  as  often  give  physic  as  any 
thing  else,  whereby  many  a  horse  has  been  lost.  It  is 
true  that  this  disease  comes  very  near  where  they  live, 
and  should  be  treated  with  great  care  and  caution.     We 


avery's  own  farrier.  103 


should  not  hazard  the  welfare  of  the  organs  that  are  im- 
mediately interested  in  this  disease,  nor  those  that  sym- 
pathise with  them,  by  giving  an  over  dose,  or  too 
powerful  an  astringent  to  commence  with,  not  until  we 
have  paved  the  way  for  it,  which  might  cause  inflam- 
mation, or  even  mortification  to  set  in,  that  would  be  as 
certain  to  produce  death  as  the  disease  that  we  were 
contending  with.  But  we  should  stop  the  progress  of 
this  disease  by  first  restoring  the  organs  aflfected,  and 
keep  on  with  a  steady  and  persevering  course  of  medi- 
cine until  the  object  is  accomplished. 

Cure. — In  common  diarrhoea,  or  gentle  purging, 
drench  the  horse  several  times  in  course  of  the  day  with 
tea  made  by  steeping  the  leaves  of  the  red  raspberry, 
strawberry  and  sage,  about  equal  parts;  this  cleanses  the 
stomach  and  bowels  of  the  canker  that  is  in  them.  Then 
give  a  dose  of  laudanum,  peppermint  essence  and  spirits 
of  camphor,  about  one  ounce  of  each — this  will  regulate 
the  stomach  and  correct  the  bile,  which  will  help  to 
check  the  scouring,  and  is  good  for  fever  or  inflamma- 
tion. This  medicine  may  be  repeated  once  in  five  or  six 
hours,  or  followed  by  giving  a  quart  of  the  decoction  of 
the  inner  bark  of  hemlock. 

In  dysentery  we  sometimes  see  the  canker,  mixed  with 
blood,  come  along  with  the  excrement,  which  is  the 
scourings  of  the  inner  coatings  of  the  intestines.  If 
this  is  not  stopped  immediately,  I  think  it  would  be  easy 
to  judge  of  the  consequences.  After  cleansing  the 
bowels  of  this  canker,  by  drenching  the  horse  with  the 
cheap  and  reliable  drench,  given  in  recipes,  or  by  giving 


104  avery's  own  farrier. 

a  dose  of  rennet,  prepared  in  the  manner  as  for  noaking 
cheese,  followed  with  a  dose  of  brandy,  to  which  is 
added  a  little  camphor. 


•  » » 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"He  that  by  the  plough  wouUl  thrive, 
Himself  must  either  hold  or  drive  ; 
And  there  are  those  that  must  do  both, 
Or  be  insensible  to  want  and  sloth." 

DISEASES    OF    THE    SKIN,    &C. 

Mange  is  a  species  of  this  kind;  as  also  surfeit  and 
hide  bound;  and  water  farcy  or  dropsy  has  hereto- 
fore been  considered  a  disease  of  the  skin,  and  may  be 
properly  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  same  here. 
"  The  skin  answers  a  double  purpose  of  protection  and 
strength.  Where  it  is  necessary  that  the  parts  should 
be  bound  and  knit  together,  it  adheres  so  tightly  that  it 
can  scarcely  be  raised.  Thus  the  bones  of  the  knees, 
and  pasterns,  and  the  tendons  of  the  legs,  on  which  so 
much  stress  is  thrown,  are  securely  tied  down  and  kept 
in  their  places.  It  is  also  very  elastic,  and  readily  adapts 
itself  to  the  slow  growth  or  decrease  of  the  body,  and 
appears  to  fit  equally  well,  whether  the  horse  is  in  the 
fullest  condition  possible,  or  reduced  to  a  skeleton."  The 
skin  is  full  of  minute  glands  that  are  called  pores,  through 
which  it  is  supplied  with  an  oily  fluid,  by  means  of  the 
insensible  perspiration  that  takes  place  in  the  body,  that 
render  it  soft  and  pliable.     Thus  it  is  when  the  horse  is 


avery's  own  farrier.  105 

in  good  thriving  condition  that  the  skin  is  loose  from 
the  texture  beneath,  and  he  is  said  to  be  healthy.  The 
reverse  of  which  is  hide-bound,  and  the  horse  is  said  to 
be  ill-conditioned.  Now,  these  pores,  constituting  as 
they  do  one  of  the  principal  outlets  of  the  body,  become 
affected  with  almost  every  disease  of  the  internal  organs, 
as  well  as  by  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  food  he 
eats. 

The  cause  of  hide-bound  may  be  the  forerunner  of 
some  other  disease;  it  may  proceed  from  teething  or 
moulting,  of  which  I  shall  speak  hereafter.  But  the 
most  common  cause  of  this  complaint,  is  for  want  of  a 
good  supply  of  nutricious  food;  and  if  this  be  the  cause, 
alteratives  will  be  beneficial  and  a  change  of  diet  indis- 
pensable. 

Surfeit  and  mange  go  hand  in  hand;  surfeit  is  mange 
in  the  first  stage;  and  mange  is  surfeit  in  a  more  ad- 
vanced stage  of  the  disease,  although  they  have  generally 
been  considered  as  two  distinct  diseases. 

Causes. — Teething  sometimes  produces  itching  and 
eruptions  of  the  skin,  as  well  as  purging.  In  either  case 
the  mouth  and  teeth  should  be  examined,  allowing  the 
horse  to  be  of  the  age  to  have  suspicion  rest  on  this 
cause.  Fevers  also  leave  a  scurf  on  the  skin  often 
causing  surfeit. 

Moulting, — The  horse  sheds  his  hair  twice  a  year, 
viz:  spring  and  autumn.  This  is  called  moulting,  by 
w^hich  the  skin  undergoes  a  material  change,  both  in 
the  falling  oflf  of  the  old  hair  and  the  sudden  growth  of 
the  new.  At  these  periods  of  changing  the  coat,  the 
skin  is  more  tender  and  irritable  than  at  other  times  of 


106  avery's  own  farrier. 

the  year,  and  the  animal  requires  better  keeping  in 
order  to  perform  his  usual  work,  and  supply  the  growth 
of  new  hair.  And  then  it  is  that  he  is  generally  most 
neglected;  he  will  be  seen  to  sweat  and  be  easily  over- 
done if  worked.  Clipping  the  superfluous  hair  at  this 
time,  has  been  thought  by  some  to  be  beneficial.  But 
these  things  are  very  little  heeded  by  the  farmer,  who 
wishes  to  have  his  horses  live  by  grazing  as  late  in  au- 
tumn as  possible,  in  order  to  save  fodder;  and  he  allows 
them  to  run  out  late  in  cold  and  pinching  weather. 
This,  undoubtedly,  is  the  most  fruitful  cause  of  mange, 
and,  when  once  established  in  the  field,  is  carried  from 
thence  to  the  stable;  there  they  are  crowded  together, 
often  rubbing  and  biting  each  other;  and  if  the  same 
card  and  brush  is  used  on  one  that  is  affected  with  mange 
and  then  on  one  that  is  not,  he  will  be  most  likely  to 
become  infected  with  it.  For  after  the  hair  begins  to 
slip  otf  from  the  pimples,  a  sort  of  matter  oozes  from 
them;  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  is  this  disease  conta- 
gious; but  whenever  this  matter  comes  in  contact  with 
the  skin  of  the  horse  that  is  in  health,  it  will  produce  a 
like  disease.  I  think  it  quite  probable,  that  where  it 
happens  to  fall  on  the  delicate  membrane  covering  the 
inside  of  the  nostrils,  as  it  may  from  their  aptitude  to  be 
nibbling  and  biting  each  other,  tliiit  it  may  sometimes  be 
the  first  steps  towards  laying  the  foundation  of  that  ter- 
rible and  so  often  fatal  disease,  real  farcy  and  glanders. 
Symptoms  of  mange  are  as  follows:  the  coal  is  rough, 
then  follows  a  breaking  out,  commencing  about  the  neck 
and  back  of  the  animal,  and  finally  spreading  nearly  over 
the  body,  appearing  like  blotches  or  little  round  pimples 


avery's  own  farrier.  107 

that  rise  up  on  the  skin,  and  quite  pointed,  from  which 
a  liquid  substance  oozes  that  destroys  the  hair  on  these 
places,  when  it  falls  off,  causing  more  or  less  itching  or 
rubbing.  Surfeit  is  characterized  by  a  dirty  skin;  the 
hair  appears  as  though  it  had  been  filled  with  a  fine 
powder,  and  from  that  up  to  the  size  of  wheat  bran. 

Cure. — Good  stable  management  is  very  important 
wherever  this  disease  has  set  in.  Alteratives  in  this 
disease  are  very  essential,  for  which  I  would  use  sulphur, 
black  antimony,  and  occasionally  adding  a  little  asafce- 
tida,  as  it  has  a  more  direct  influence  in  opening  the 
pores  of  the  skin  than  most  anything  else.  I  would  use 
it  in  small  quantities,  as  by  giving  enongh  to  physic  the 
horse  it  opens  the  pores  too  much,  whereby  they  are 
more  liable  to  take  cold.  By  anointing  the  pimples 
with  the  following,  you  will  soon  effect  a  cure:  Take 
one  pound  of  fresh  lard,  four  ounces  of  sulphur,  and  one 
ounce  of  red  precipitate;  melt  and  mix  these,  and  apply 
with  the  finger,  rubbing  it  well  in.  I  have  another  re- 
medy for  this  disease  that  is  simple  and  purely  vegetable, 
and  works  like  a  charm,  which  is,  to  feed  the  colt  that  is 
affected,  with  two  or  three  quarts  a  day  of  buckwheat 
for  a  week;  during  this  lime  take  four  quarts  of  the  same 
and  turn  upon  it  a  pailfull  of  warm  water,  letting  it 
stand  three  days,  and  stir  before  using,  then  wash  the 
parts  affected  with  this  liquor.  I  know  that  some  people 
have  said,  that  they  would  not  feed  buckwheat  on  any 
account,  as  it  produced  itch,  but  this  was  before  they 
knew  its  cooling  and  medicinal  properties.  By  feeding 
buckwheat,  the  coat  will  assume  a  very  sleek  and  glossy 
appearance,  just  what  we  want  to  see   after  any  kind  of 


108 


avery's  own  fakrier. 


disease  of  the  skin  or  any  other  part.  It  brings  the  hu- 
morous matter  of  the  body  to  the  surface,  and  cleanses  the 
system.  Then  by  applying  this  wash,  which  is  equally 
cooling  and  soothing  to  the  surface,  all  itching  and 
eruptions  of  the  skin  are  got  rid  of  at  once.  Some 
may  have  formed  an  unfavorable  opinion  of  this  grain  by 
feeding  too  much  or  too  long  of  it;  at  any  rate,  it  is 
good  for  a  change  of  diet^  which  the  horse  so  much  re- 
quires; and  is  valuable  as  a  medicine  in  all  diseases  of 
the  skin,  acting  as  a  preventive  against  other  diseases. 
The  straw  of  this  grain  also  forms  an  important  part  of 
the  food  of  the  horse,  especially  when  fed  on  much  of  the 
heavier  kinds  of  grain,  or  when  diseased. 

Dropsy. — Has  been  called  by  some  water  farcy,  but  it 
may  be  more  properly  called  dropsy.    , 

Causes. — Over  riding  or  driving,  excessive  fatigue, 
damp  stables,  and  taking  cold,  whereby  the  pores  of  the 
skin  become  closed,  so  that  the  fluid  which  should  have 
passed  off  through  them  in  the  form  of  sweat  or  evapo- 
ration, is  collected  beneath  the  skin. 

Symptoms. — The  horse  is  very  stiff  and  sore,  and 
scarcely  able  to  be  moved  out  of  the  stable,  not  much 
inclined  to  eat  or  lie  down,  the  arms,  breast  and  belly 
swollen,  and  hanging  down  like  sacks,  appearing  to  be 
filled  with  wind  or  water,  or  a  sort  of  jelly  under  the 
skin,  the  dimensions  of  which  will  correspond  with  the 
severity  of  the  case. 

Cure. — Clothe  warm,  rub  the  legs  often;  give  cayenne 
pepper  tea  two  or  three  times  a  day,  and  every  morning 
add  a  little  rosin  to  his  food  for  two  or  three  days,  fre- 
quently bathing  the  swollen  parts  with  cold  water.  After 


Avery's  own  farrier.  109 

the  swelling  has  disappeared,  if  there  should  be  any  sores 
or  blotches  on  the  skin,  as  there  will  sometimes  be  in 
obstinate  cases,  use  the  following  twice  a  day  until  well: 
Take  four  ounces  of  fresh  butter  or  lard,  half  an  ounce 
each  of  camphor  and  castile  soap,  and  a  piece  of  lard 
the  size  of  a  hickory  nut,  melt  and  mix  these  all  together, 
then  add  one  ounce  of  origanum  oil,  half  an  ounce  of 
spirits  of  turpentine,  and  when  thoroughly  mixed  it  is 
fit  for  use. 

It  may  be  deemed  expedient  to  fleam  the  swollen  parts 
in  order  to  let  out  the  water  collected  under  the  skin,  so 
as  to  effect  a  more  speedy  cure  in  some  cases;  if  so,  care 
should  be  taken  to  avoid  all  veins  and  arteries,  and  use 
only  a  short  fleam  for  this  purpose  that  will  only  reach 
through  the  skin;  although  it  will  seldom,  if  ever,  be 
necessary  to  resort  to  the  fleam  at  all  in  diseases  of  this 
nature,  when  we  consider  that  the  above  remedies  work 
it  out  through  the  pores  of  the  skin  and  by  the  urine, 
which  is  the  proper  mode  of  eflfecting  a  cure. 


•  » > 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

BLOOD    SPAVINS. 

I  am  well  aware  of  the  declaration  made  by  some  in 
relation  to  this  difficulty,  that  a  horse  once  spavined  is 
ruined,  for  a  spavin  is  incurable.  As  I  said  at  the  start, 
it  is  not  for  one  man  to  know  all;  he  may  understand 
some  branches  of  art  better  than  others,  and  he  should 
not  be   blamed  for   not   understanding  them   all;   but  I 

10 


110  avery's  own  farrier. 

can  not  consent  that  the  spavin  is  incurable,  and  for  this 
reason:  1  have  cured  a  great  many  of  them,  some  of 
which  I  have  known  to  remain  sound  through  life,  while 
the  animal  had  always  been  kept  at  hard  work. 

The  blood  spavin  is  called  by  different  names  by  dif- 
ferent persons,  as  thorough-pin,  flesh  and  bog  spavin, 
wind  puffs,  &c.,  but  they  are  in  fact  one  and  the  same 
disease,  which  may  only  be  called  so  from  the  different 
stages  it  appears  in  after  it  has  commenced,  and  may  be 
known  by  the  enlargement  of  the  tarsus  or  hock,  which 
is  composed  of  six  bones. 

Symptoms. — It  may  first  be  seen  on  the  inside  of  the 
joint  where  the  skin  will  only  be  a  very  little  raised  im- 
mediattly  over  the  large  blood  vessel,  partially  hiding  it 
at  this  place;  sometimes  it  will  appear  on  the  outside  of 
the  joint  like  a  little  puff  which  gives  it  the  name  of  tho- 
rough-pin;  and  then  again  it  will  sometimes  spread  nearly 
around  the  whole  joint,  which  will  appear  in  some  cases 
twice  as  large  as  in  health,  when  it  is  called  flesh  or  bog 
spavin;  but,  generally  speakings  the  enlargement  is 
confined  to  the  inside  of  the  joint  and  is  called  blood 
spavin.  Betw^een  the  tendons  of  the  hock  there  is  a 
little  bladder  or  sack,  containing  an  oily  substance, 
which  enables  the  tendons  to  slide  over  without  friction. 
By  some  strain,  either  in  the  effort  to  get  up  in  the  sta- 
ble and  slipping,  or  other  accident,  and  hard  drawing, 
this  little  sack,  or  some  little  blood  vessels  of  the  parts, 
becomes  ruptured,  and  the  matter  they  contain  oozes  out 
by  the  motion  of  the  joint,  collectinii,  under  the  skin, 
which  makes  the  enlargement  called  spavin. 

Sometimes  the  horse  is  quite  lame,  and  at  others  only 


avery's  own  farrier.  Ill 

partially  so,  unless  exercised  hard,  and  he  will  show  it 
most  after  standing  still  some  time,  and  recover  soon  from 
his  lameness  by  being  warmed  up  by  exercise,  which  is 
a  characteristic  of  all  kinds  of  spavins.  Young  and 
spirited  horses  are  more  liable  to  injuries  of  this  kind 
than  others,  for  their  legs  and  joints  are  not  so  firmly  knit 
and  strong,  and  they  are  more  likely  to  overdo  and  strain 
themselves  when  put  to  work. 

Cure. — When  the  enlargement  first  appears,  or  has  not 
run  over  six  months,  it  may  be  permanently  cured  by  at- 
tending carefully  to  the  following  directions:  Take  a 
sharp-pointed  knife  or  fleam  and  puncture  the  skin  in 
several  places  over  the  enlargement,  barely  through  the 
skin;  rub  the  place  once  only  with  spirits  of  turpentine, 
to  create  a  little  irritation  of  the  parts;  then  take  a  piece 
of  strong  cloth,  the  size  of  the  enlarged  part,  and  cover 
it  well  with  any  kind  of  adhesive  salve  that  will  draw 
pretty  hard,  oUt  not  so  as  to  blister  or  start  the  hair; 
heat  this  and  stick  it  on,  then  warm  some  more  of  this 
salve  (or  a  little  tar  will  answer  for  this  purpose),  and 
cover  the  outside  of  the  plaster  with  it;  then  put  on  a 
compress  and  bandage  as  tight  as  you  can  without  pain- 
ing the  horse,  which  can  be  done  by  laying  on  this  plas- 
ter a  wad  of  tow  or  cotton,  so  that  the  tar  will  keep  to 
its  place  until  it  is  secured  by  the  bandage,  which  should 
be  about  three  inches  in  width,  and  wound  alternately 
above  and  below  the  joint  on  the  back  part  of  the  leg, 
and  so  as  to  cross  it  every  time  you  wind  it  around  the 
]e^  over  the  tow.  In  this  way  you  will  be  able  to  press 
the  bunch  (that  you  want  to  get  rid  of)  well  back  to  the 
joint,  or  to  its  natural  position.     This  is  a  very  ditficult 


112 


avery's  own  farrier. 


place  to  keep  a  bandage  on,  owing  to  the  taper  of  the 
leg  at  this  place  and  the  motion  of  the  joint,  and  this  is 
the  only  way  you  can  do  it  effectually.  Remove  the 
bandage  and  plaster  every  day,  and  wash  the  parts  with 
strong  camphoretted  spirits  or  oil  of  wormwood,  well 
rubbed  in  with  the  hand.  Repeat  the  compressing  and 
bandaging  until  the  bunch  is  gone,  which  may  be  three 
or  four  days,  and  continue  to  wash  the  parts  with  alco- 
hol and  camphor  some  time  afterwards,  which  Avill 
strengthen  the  joint  and  prevent  its  return.  I  would  ad- 
vise rest,  as  well  as  caution  not  to  strain  the  horse,  or 
draw  him  hard  for  a  while.  I  never  met  with  a  single 
failure  in  this  way,  and  always  effected  a  cure  without 
leaving  a  scar  or  blemish. 

In  cases  of  old  spavins,  where  they  have  become  cal- 
loused or  tumorous,  a  different  mode  of  treatment  will  be 
required.  If  they  contain  any  matter,  let  it  out  with  a 
knife,  and  apply  a  strong  blister,  which  may  need  to  be 
repeated;  then  use  the  compress  and  bandage  as  before, 
and  bathe  the  parts  with  the  following:  Take  one  pint 
of  good  brandy,  add  a  handfull  of  bark  taken  from  the 
sumach  root;  let  this  soak  over  night  or  longer,  then  add- 
ing, and  shaking  the  bottle  well  belore  using,  two  spoons- 
full  of  the  oil  of  angle  worms.*  By  rubbing  the  enlarged 
part  with  this  once  a  day,  and  using  the  bandage,  you 
will  be  most  likely  to  succeed  in  getting  rid  of  that  which 


*  To  obtain  the  oil  of  angle  worms,  take  a  quart  bottle  and  fill  it  "* 
w^ith  wornns;  hang  it  up  in  some  warm  place  in  the  sun  until  the 
worms  are  decayed,  and  there  will  be  an  oil  left  on  the  top  which  you 
can  turn  off  and  keep  for  use.     It  is  an  excellent  and  powerful  ap- 
plication for  old  spavins  and  stiff  joints. 


avery's  own  farrier.  113 

is  such  an  eye-sore  to  man.  Although,  should  there  be 
any  stiffness  or  enlargement  left  of  the  joint  after  apply- 
ing the  above  a  short  time,  let  it  rest  a  few  clays  after 
oiling  it,  to  start  the  hair;  and  then  if  it  is  larger  than 
you  wish  to  have  it,  use  the  oil  of  wormwood  on  it  for  a 
few  days  longer.  Or  if  there  is  not  much  enlargement, 
and  the  joint  appears  to  be  stiff,  use  the  frog's  oil  which 
will  be  found  in  recipe  No.  92. 

BONE    SPAVIN. 

This,  ns  well  as  the  blood  spavin,  according  to  horse- 
ology,  has  had  several  different  names  given  to  it  by  dif- 
ferent individuals.  One  calls  it  a  beetle,  the  next  a  jack, 
another  a  dry  knot,  and  so  on;  but  the  most  common  and 
proper  name  is  bone  spavin,  as  it  becomes  a  bony  sub- 
stance, having  proceeded  from  one  cause,  viz:  a  blow, 
slip  or  strain,  whereby  the  lower  joint  of  the  hock  is  in- 
jured, the  ligament  covering  the  joint  being  cracked  on 
the  inside  of  the  leg,  causing  a  leakage  from  the  joint 
itself.  This  joint  lee  oozes  out  and  finally  becomes  ossi- 
fied, or  bony  like.  As  it  increases  in  size  under  the  skin, 
it  hinders  the  free  play  of  the  joint,  which  grows  weaker 
as  the  bunch  increases.  The  horse  is  stiff  in  that  leg, 
and  sometimes  quite  lame,  but  it  comes  on  him  so  gradu- 
ally that  oftentimes  he  starts  off  very  lame  for  a  short 
distance  before  any  enlargement  of  the  joint  is  to  be  seen, 
unless  it  be  by  a  very  close  observer.  At  this  time  it  is 
not  so  difficult  to  cure  as  it  is  after  it  has  formed  a  bunch, 
for  then  you  have  a  double  task  to  perform;  you  have 
not  only  the  joint  to  cure  so  that  the  horse  will  not  be 
lame,  but  you  have  this  bunch  to  take  off"  so  that  there 


114  avery's  own  farrier. 

will  not  be  any  blemish;  but  the  main  object  is  to  stop 
the  leakage  of  the  joint. 

Cure. — Take  a  halt  bushel  of  dried  beech  leaves,  which 
you  can  find  in  the  woods  any  time;  boil  them  in  water 
for  half  an  hour,  put  them  in  a  bag  and  bind  it  on  the 
leg,  leaving  a  hole  in  the  bag  where  it  comes  over  the 
joint.  Keep  this  hot  as  the  horse  can  bear  it  by  taking 
it  off  and  dipping  it  in  the  same  liquor  they  were  boiled 
in,  every  half  hour  for  some  four  or  five  hours.  After 
this  has  been  done,  wash  the  joint  with  a  strong  decoc- 
tion of  white  oak  bark  and  alum  twice  a  day  for  a  few 
days,  after  which  you  may  use  the  alcohol  and  camphor. 
Being  careful  to  not  turn  him  short  on  his  legs,  or  wrench 
the  joint  anew  for  some  two  or  three  weeks,  it  will  be- 
come sound  again.  But  where  there  is  a  large  bunch 
formed  over  the  joint,  you  can  not  stop  the  leakage  till 
this  is  out  of  the  way.  The  reason  why  so  many  have 
failed  in  curing  this  disease  is,  because  they  have  been 
unsuccessful  in  this  part  of  the  operation.  Some  have 
succeeded  in  the  early  stages  of  this  ossified  substance,  by 
powerful  blistering  or  firing,  w^hich  is  attended  with 
some  risk,  and  being  also  very  painful  to  the  horse. 
There  have  been  various  experiments  made,  and  difTerent 
conclusions  arrived  at,  in  attempting  to  dissolve  this 
ossified  substance  without  injuring  the  horse.  However 
there  are  but  two  modes  of  doing  it  that  I  am  acquainted 
with,  which  I  feel  willing  to  recommend  to  the  public. 
The  first  is  to  shave  off  the  hair  and  lay  on  a  little  liquid 
or  sweating  blister  ointment  (for  which  a  recipe  will  be 
found  in  another  place),  until  you  get  the  skin  nearly  ofT 
from  the  spot,  or  it  is  raw;  then  apply  by  sprinkling  it 


Avery's  own  farrier.  115 

on,  or  by  putting  it  on  a  tallowed  rag  in  the  centre,  fast- 
ening it  on  the  sore  by  means  of  a  little  sticking  salve 
around  the  edges.  This  makes  a  deeper  sore  than  you 
can  get  with  a  blister.  Wash  the  sore  every  day,  and 
repeat  this  last  operation  until  you  think  it  has  suffi- 
ciently done  its  work  in  causing  this  bony  substance  to 
slough  off;  then  remove  and  cleanse  it,  and  begin  the 
healing  process.  The  second  is  to  take  a  strong  ley 
made  from  the  swamp  ash;  boil  it  down  till  quite  thick, 
and  apply  as  above  directed  to  the  sore.  This  will  do 
its  woik  quietly  and  without  giving  pain.  But  if  you 
j^vish  to  hasten  tj^e  decrease  of  this  bunch  a  little  faster, 
add  to  the  above  a  very  little  corrosive  sublimate.  After 
cleansing  and  getting  rid  of  this  ossification,  great  care 
should  be  bestowed  in  order  to  stop  the  leakage  of  the 
joint,  and  heal  up  the  wound  without  leaving  a  blemish, 
which  can  be  done  in  the  following  manner:  In  the  first 
place,  take  one  pint  of  alcohol,  adding  an  ounce  of  tonic 
acid,  and  wash  the  sore  about  the  joint  with  it  once  a  day. 
Then  dress  it  every  day  after  washing  with  the  iollow- 
ing  salve,  anil  apply  it  to  the  wound  every  day  until  it  is 
healed  up.  It  is  the  one  to  be  used  in  taking  off  any 
bunches  of  this  kind,  either  spavins,  ring-bones,  or  any 
others  where  the  joints  are  affected,  for  it  has  a  powerful 
effect  in  stopping  the  leakage  from  the  joint,  and  heal- 
ing up  the  wound  at  the  same  time.  Take  one  ounce 
each  of  honey  and  pine  turpentine,  one  pint  of  a  strong 
decoction  of  white  oak  bark,  and  simmer  them  together 
to  the  consistency  of  a  salve. 


116  aveey's  own  farrier 

,  ringbone. 

This  is  not  much  unlike  the  bone  spavin  in  its  first 
stages,  in  many  respects,  only  in  its  location.  It  first 
appears  on  the  side  of  the  pasterns,  and,  as  it  increases 
in  growth,  it  extends  forward  and  quite  around  the  pas- 
terns, or  until  it  meets  its  brother  on  the  other  side, 
forming  a  ring  of  bony  or  ossified  substance,  from  which 
it  takes  its  name.  The  pastern  joint  is  not  only  injured, 
but  in  time  this  ossified  substance  becomes  so  firm,  that 
it  binds  the  cords  and  ligaments  so  tight  that  the  coflfin 
and  naviculare  bones  are  affected  thereby,  rendering  the 
horse  very  lame,  &c.  This  disease  makes  its  appearance 
most  frequently  on  colts,  or  young  horses;  but  older  ones 
are  not  always  exempt.  It  is  sometimes  the  result  of 
bad  shoeing,  by  paring  the  heel  too  much  and  the  toe 
too  little,  thus  throwing  the  weight  of  the  horse  back  of 
the  centre  of  the  foot,  which  is  very  straining  to  the 
pasterns.  Colts  having  long  and  yielding  pasterns,  are 
more  liable  to  have  ringbones  than  those  having  shorter 
ones,  and  stand  upright.  Where  colts  are  confined 
closely  the  first  and  second  winter,  much  can  be  done  to 
prevent  ringbone  by  paring  the  horny  part  of  the  toe  off 
occasionally,  but  when  they  are  allowed  to  run  and  have 
suflficient  exercise,  they  wear  them  off  themselves.  When 
there  is  any  enlargement  or  swelling  of  the  legs  of  young 
colts,  it  may  well  be  regarded  as  suspicious  of  ringbone, 
for  it  generally  results  in  that,  and  is  oftener  caused  by 
need  of  exercise  than  in  any  other  way  (which  is  the 
fault  of  the  owner),  for  this  causes  inflammalion  and 
swelled  legs,  which  always  precede  ringbone. 


avery's  own  farrier.  117 

Exercise  is  as  essentially  necessary  to  the  growth  and 
strength  of  the  limbs  as  food  is  to  the  body.  So  he  that 
does  not  know  how  to  cure  ringbone,  can  do  much  to 
prevent  it. 

Cure, — Take  the  swelling  and  inflammation  out  of  the 
]egs  by  bathing  them  in  cold  water,  and  applying  the 
wormwood  steeped  in  vinegar,  as  before  stated.  If  the 
pasterns  remain  enlarged  or  swollen,  cut  off  a  strip  of 
bacon  rind,  two  inches  wide,  nearly  an  inch  thick,  and 
long  enough  to  reach  around  the  part,  and  tie  it  on  by 
means  of  a  strong  string  attached  to  each  end  thereof. 
I  would  not  do  anything  more  for  it  under  three  months, 
only  to  let  him  wear  this,  and  give  him  plenty  of  exer- 
cise; for  nature  will  do  a  great  deal  towards  perfecting 
a  cure;  and  harsh  remedies  are  often  attended  w^th 
worse  consequences  than  the  disease.  After  this  opera- 
tion, I  should  proceed  to  take  them  off  precisely  as  I 
would  a  bone  spavin,  being  particular  to  oil  the  wound 
occasionally,  as  well  as  all  around  the  coronet,  to  assist 
in  restoring  the  hair,  and  also  to  prevent  injuring  the 
hoof. 

FOR    STOPPING    JOINT   LEE,    &C. 

Where  any  fresh  wound  is  near  the  joint,  or  the  joint 
is  in  any  way  injured  so  as  to  cause  the  joint  water  to  leak 
out,  as  is  the  case  sometimes  by  kicks,  &c.,  it  must  be 
stopped  immediately,  and  tliat  before  any  attempt  is 
made  to  heal  up  the  wound,  or  the  joint  is  spoiled,  which 
can  be  done  effectually  in  the  following  manner:  Take, 
for  instance,  from  a  peck  to  half  a  bushel  of  old,  dry 
beach   leaves,  boil   them  for  sometime   in   w^ater,  then 


118  avery's  own  farrier. 

place  them  in  a  bag  having  one  side  of  it  open,  and 
place  this  over  the  joint,  keeping  it  as  hot  as  the  animal 
can  bear  it  by  often  dipping  it  in  the  water  they  were 
boiled  in,  until  the  object  is  effected,  which  may  take 
some  three  or  four  hours  in  some  cases.  Then  begin  to 
heal  it  up  by  the  following  salve:  Take  one  pint  of  the 
strongest  decoction  of  the  white  oak  bark,  and  two 
ounces  each  of  honey  and  yellow  pine  turpentine,  and 
simmer  them  together.  Or  if  it  is  away  from  the  joint, 
and  on  or  near  the  bone,  use  the  following  instead: 
Take  a  decoction  of  these  roots,  viz:  spikenard,  com- 
frey,  and  bitter  sweet,  to  one  quart  of  this  liquor,  and 
one  pound  of  lard,  a  very  little  salt  and  camphor,  then 
simmer  the  whole  together,  stirring  it  well,  and,  when 
cool,  it  will  be  fit  for  use. 

There  are  a  great  many  remedies  given  for  these  com- 
plaints, many  of  which  cure  them,  for  the  time  being, 
about  as  well  as  scratching  cures  the  itch;  but  the  great 
object  is  to  remove  the  cause  entirely  and  effect  a  perfect 
cure,  for  which  the  above  will  be  found  invaluable, 

A    CURB,  OR    CORE. 

This  is  a  swelling  that  arises  from  the  joint,  or  liga- 
ments on  the  back  part  of  the  leg,  just  below  the  point 
of  the  hock,  and  is  generally  accompanied  with  consid- 
erable inflammation  of  that  particular  part.  It  is  com- 
monly caused  by  a  blow  or  strain.  The  colt  does  this 
often  in  some  of  his  kicking  pranks,  which  renders  the 
leg,  when  curbed,  very  unpleasant  to  the  eye,  and  some- 
times makes  him  quite  lame. 

Cure. — Muffle  the  leg  and   bathe  it  with  cold  water. 


avery's  own  farrier.  119 

Then  apply  the.clay  and  vinegar  poultice;  one  day  will 
be  sufficient  for  this.  After  which,  rub  the  curb  with 
the  ibllovving  liniment  twice  a  day:  Take  one  ounce 
each  of  oils  of  wormwood  and  origanum,  and  one  ounce 
of  gum  camphor;  put  them  in  a  bottle  and  add  half  a 
pint  of  good  alchohol;  shake  well  and  apply  as  above 
stated  for  a  week.  Then  let  it  alone  ibr  a  week,  being 
careful  not  to  strain  it  anew.  And  if  the  curb  is  not 
considerably  diminished  in  that  time,  then  fleam  the 
parts  in  several  places  just  through  the  skin,  and  band- 
age, removing  it  every  day,  and  wash  the  joint  with  any 
powerful  astiingent;  when  done,  rub  the  curb  with  clear 
oil  of  w^ormwood,  and  bandage  again  until  cured. 

LAMENESS    IN    THE    STIFLE. 

The  stifle  joint  is  a  very  tender  and  sensitive  place  on 
the  horse;  it  is  even  next  to  the  eye  in  this  respect.  It 
is  construQled  so  that  it  turns  or  rolls  almost  out  of  its 
place  (as  it  were),  every  time  the  horse  steps,  and  is 
prevented  from  doing  so  only,  by  the  strong  muscles  and 
ligaments  of  the  leg  that  support  it,  and  the  small  sinews 
that  are  situated  near  the  centre  thereof.  Consequently, 
when  a  horse  is  said  to  be  stifled,  it  is  nothing  more  or 
less  tiian  these  muscles  being  strained  by  some  sudden 
wrench,  causing  inflammation  of  the  parts,  ant!  w^eak- 
ness,  whereby  the  ligaments  become  relaxed  so  that  they 
do  not  keep  the  joint  in  its  proper  place.  It  may  be 
caused  by  a  blow,  strain  or  kick,  or  by  the  horse  step- 
ping on  a  rolling  stone,  &c.  Heat,  inflammation,  ten- 
derness, short  stepping,  or  rather  curtsying,  and  dragging 
the  limb  along,  will  point  out  the  place  of  this  difficulty. 


120  avery's  own  farrier. 

Therefore,  to  cure  this  lameness  only  requires  to  contract 
and  strengthen  the  muscles,  for  which  astringents  become 
necessary. 

Cure. — In  the  first  place  entire  rest  is  necessary,  bath- 
ing the  parts  well  with  cold  water;  then  wash  the  joint 
with  either  the  decoction  of  the  oak  bark  and  alum,  or 
the  tonic  acid  cut  with  alcohol,  every  morning;  and 
every  evening  bathe  it  with  the  following:  Take  the 
whites  of  four  or  five  hens'  eggs,  and  a  teacupfull  of  lard 
and  rye  flour,  about  half  and  half,  beat  them  into  a  paste, 
and  rub  it  on  with  the  hand.  Then  warm  it  in  with  a 
hot  stone  or  brick,  applying  it  over  and  about  the  stifle 
joint.  This  will  make  sufficient  for  several  dressings, 
and  probably  enough  to  cure  the  lameness,  which  will 
not  last  longer  than  two  or  three  days  at  most. 


<  ♦  •  » 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TREATMENT    OF    WOUNDS. 

Clean  all  wounds  well  if  possible  without  washing, 
but  if  found  necessary,  do  it  with  cold  water.  Restore 
the  injured  parts  as  near  as  possible  to  their  original 
situation,  and  retain  them  there  by  means  of  stitches  and 
bandages.  Or  if  not  expedient  to  do  this,  shave  off  the 
hair,  when  sticking  plasters  with  or  without  bandaging 
may  be  employed.  When  stitches  are  employed,  take 
them  deep  enough  not  to  have  them  tear  out,  and  about 
one  inch  apart  when  the  wound  is  of  considerable  size, 
and  every  time  there  is  a  stitch  taken,  tie  the  thread  and 
cut  it  off. 


avery's  own  farrier.  121 

When  you  do  not  see  a  wound  until  the  skin  is  dried 
and  curled  up,  then  pare  the  dried  skin  and  flesh  off,  so 
as  to  leave  the  surface  as  smooth  as  you  can,  otherwise 
it  will  leave  a  scar  or  blemish  when  healed  up.  Subdue 
the  inflammation  of  the  parts  by  cooling  lotions,  poul- 
tices or  fomentations,  as  the  case  may  require.  If  the 
wound  is  sufficient  to  cause  general  inflammation,  subdue 
it  by  low  diet,  bleeding  and  purging.  Leave  it  now  to 
nature  until  matter  appears,  or  apply  the  salve  of  which 
there  is  a  formula  given  under  the  head  of  Joint  Lee.  If 
at  any  time  proud  flesh  appears,  or  the  wound  looks 
dead  and  blackish,  touch  it  occasionallv  with  tincture  of 
aloes  or  gum  myrrh,  and  syringe  it  with  rum  in  which 
loaf  sugar  and  blue  vitrei  have  been  dissolved.  This 
will  cleanse  the  wound  and  assist  in  healing  it.  "When 
a  wound  looks  red,  and  this  bad  flesh  rises  up,  the  scrap- 
ings of  an  old  powder  horn  may  be  laid  on  it  a  short 
time  to  advantage,  after  which  syringe  with  the  above. 
In  hot  weather,  when  the'  animal  runs  out  in  the  field, 
and  sometimes  if  confined,  wounds  often  get  fly-blown 
and  full  of  maggots.  They  should  be  covered  with 
spirits  of  turpentine  and  the  juice  of  the  poison  elder 
leaves  and  bark.  After  a  wound  is  nearly  or  quite 
healed,  it  should  be  dressed  with  sweet  oil  to  assist  in 
restoring  the  hair. 

Where  a  vein  or  artery  is  severed  in  a  wound,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  take  it  up  on  account  of  its  location,  or 
for  the  want  of  skill  to  perform  the  operation,  the  foU 
lowing  articles  will  be  found  useful  for  the  purpose  of 
stopping  the  blood:  Alum,  wheat  flour,  salt,  the  scrap- 
ings from  the  inside  of  sole  leather,  and  puff  balls,  by 

11 


122  AVERY 'S    OWN   FARRIER. 

applying  them  to  the  parts;  and  the  oil  of  fire  weed  also 
is  good  for  this  purpose;  and  even  when  the  wound  is 
where  you  can  not  get  at  it  in  any  other  way,  you  may 
take  this  oil,  cut  it  with  alcohol,  and  burn  it  underneath, 
so  that  the  smoke  thereof  will  reach  the  vein  or  artery. 
It  has  a  powerful  effect  in  stopping  the  blood.  Horses 
are  sometimes  taken  bleeding  profusely  at  the  nose,  in 
consequence  of  a  fall,  a  blow,  or  carrying  too  heavy  a 
load  on  their  backs,  which  may  be  remedied  by  blowing 
flour  or  salt  up  the  nostrils.  Sometimes  tieing  the  head 
up  as  high  as  you  can,  for  a  short  time,  will  have  the 
desired  effect. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  we  can  give  only  the 
general  outlines  for  the  treatment  of  this  class  of  wounds. 
They  must  be  seen  to  enable  us  to  judge  accurately  of 
their  treatment  in  all  cases,  as  the  manner  in  which  they 
are  made  and  their  location  are  so  various.  For  we  can 
not  speak  of  them  with  the  same  freedom  that  we  could 
after  seeing  them,  or  those  that  we  are  under  the  neces- 
sity of  making. 

STRANGLES,    OR    HORSE    DISTEMPER. 

This  is  caused  by  a  neglected  cold,  or  by  some  con- 
stitutional liability.  It  is  a  disease  of  the  glands  and 
throat,  which  become  swollen,  hot  and  inflamed,  reach- 
ing also  the  muscles  of  the  tongue,  when  the  whole  be- 
comes sw^ollen  and  very  sore. 

Symptoms. — The  countenance  dull,  eyes  and  nose  run, 
glands  swollen  behind  the  jaw;  he  refuses  his  food  in 
consequence   of  its  hurting  him  to  swallow;   constant 


avery's  own  farrier.  123 

thirst  without  being  able  to  drink  unless  it  is  held  up  to 
him,  and  altogether  producing  more  or  less  cough. 

Cure. — Bleed  copiously  from  the  neck  vein;  give  sul- 
phur and  asafoetida  in  small  quantities  in  bran  mashes, 
if  possible  to  make  him  eat  it.  Give  the  following 
drench  twice  or  three  times  a  day;  take  half  a  pint  of 
vinegar,  a  tablespoonfull  each  of  fine  salt  and  cayenne 
pepper.  Sage  tea,  with  a  little  alum  dissolved  in  it,  is 
also  a  very  good  wash  for  the  mouth;  you  may  also 
steam  and  foment  the  throat,  by  an  outer  application  of 
bitter  herbs  steeped  in  vinegar,  and  applied  hot  as  the 
horse  can  bear  it. 

This  is  a  very  troublesome  disease  to  the  horse,  but 
not  dangerous  unless  the  swelling  continues  until  he  dies 
by  suflfocation  before  it  breaks.  But  it  is  very  important 
to  attend  to  this  disease  in  the  early  stages  thereof,  to  pre- 
vent its  breaking  on  the  inside  of  the  throat  (which  often 
causes  thick  wind);  to  prevent  which  it  sometimes  be- 
comes necessary  to  lance  it  on  the  outside.  And  it  is  some- 
times the  case  in  this  disease,  that  the  throat  is  so  closed 
by  the  swelling,  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  animal  to 
swallow  food  enough  to  support  nature  until  the  sw^elling 
abates.  It  may  become  necessary  (as  in  lock  jaw)  to 
resort  to  clysters,  which  may  be  made  by  thickening 
warm  water  with  oat  meal,  then  let  it  boil  a  few  min- 
utes only,  and  when  cool  make  a  little  sweet  with  sale 
molasses.  This  makes  a  very  nutritious  gruel  for  the 
above  use,  and  will  be  very  beneficial  if  you  can  turn  a 
very  little  of  it  down  the  natural  vfAy,  It  will  answer 
in  this  as  well  as  in  many  other  diseases. 


124  avery's  own  farrier. 

sprung  knees  and  string  halt. 

The  first  of  these  is  caused  by  straining,  hard  driving 
down  hill,  &c.,  leaving  weak  joints,  and  causing  con- 
traction of  the  fore  arm  that  draws  up  the  cords  and  ren- 
ders them  useless  to  the  support  of  the  joint.  Now  it  is 
useless  to  think  of  doctoring  the  cords  for  this  complaint, 
for  this  reason:  it  is  impossible  to  relax  a  cord,  but  by 
relaxing  the  muscles,  it  will  drop  the  cord  and  relieve  the 
limb. 

String  Halt  is  caused  by  overdoing,  exposure  to  wet 
and  cold,  or  long  standing  without  exercise.  It  is  a  con- 
traction of  the  muscles,  the  same  as  the  former,  only  it 
is  confined  to  the  hind  legs.  It  consists  of  an  involun- 
tary use  or  false  action  of  a  muscle,  which  overacts,  jerk- 
ing one  of  the  legs  almost  up  to  the  belly,  and  sometimes 
both  in  their  turn,  instead  of  moving  gracefully  and  na- 
tural. Although  this  seldom  injures  the  horse  to  any 
great  extent  for  service,  it  is  very  unpleasant  to  the  eye; 
and  being  of  the  same  nature  as  the  former,  they  both 
require  the  same  mode  of  treatment.  A  horse  troubled 
with  string  halt  is  not  so  bad  in  warm  weather  as  he  is 
in  cold,  for  then  the  muscles  are  more  relaxed.  Anything 
that  will  relax  these  muscles  will  give  momentary  relief, 
if  it  does  no  more.  I  have  seen  an  evident  improvement 
for  the  time  being  made  by  merely  bathing  the  limbs  in 
hot  water. 

Cure. — Bathe  the  limbs  from  the  knees  or  gambrels 
up  to  the  body  well  with  a  strong  decoction  of  tobacco, 
every  day  (until  relief  is  found),  and  an  hour  or  two 
after  rub  on  with  tire  hand  over  these  muscles  either  of 
the  following  oils,  with  a  very  little  spirits  of  turpentine 


avery's  own  farrier.  125 

added  to  them,  being  classed  as  to  their  virtues  in  relax- 
ing these  muscles  as  they  are  set  down,  the  last  the  best, 
viz:  the  oil  of  cedar,  skunk's  oil,  bear's  oil,  turtle's  oil, 
frog's  oil. 

While  using  the  above  for  sprung  knees  you  should 
also  wash  the  joints  with  some  astringent;  a  decoction  of 
the  white  oak  and  sweet  apple  tree  bark  is  good  for  this 
purpose.  In  recent  injuries  of  this  kind,  a  permanent  cure 
may  be  expected. 

To  make  a  Star  or  Blaze. — If  you  should  happen  to 
have  a  pair  of  horses  that  are  w^ell  matched,  except  that 
one  has  a  star  or  blaze  in  the  face  and  the  other  not,  it 
would  be  very  desirable,  as  well  as  important,  to  have 
them  look  just  alike  in  this  respect,  which  can  be  accom- 
plished in  the  following  manner:  Take  a  razor  and  shave 
off  the  hair  close  about  the  form  and  size  you  want  to 
make  white;  then  rub  it  over  once,  or  twice  may  be 
necessary,  with  oil  of  vitriol;  after  this  the  place  will 
become  a  little  sore  and  inflamed,  when  the  incrustation 
should  be  removed,  and  the  spot  healed  by  washing  the 
sore  with  copperas  water.  When  nearly  healed  up,  rub 
it  over  once  with  sweet  oil,  and  the  hair  will  grow  out 
white  as  you  desire  it. 

There  is  still  another  method  by  which  the  same  ob- 
ject may  be  accomplished,  and  by  some  may  be  preferred 
to  the  above.  Spread  a  plaster  of  hot  pitch,  the  size 
and  shape  you  wish  the  star  to  be  made,  and  lay  it  on 
the  place,  letting  it  remain  two  or  three  days,  or  until  it 
brings  the  hair  off  with  it,  and  leaves  the  spot  a  little 
sore  and  tender.  If  this  is  not  sufficiently  deep  and  sore 
enough,  you  can  rub  on  a  little  vitriol.     Then  take  a 


126  AVERy's   OWN   FARRIER. 

quantity  of  the  weed  called  smart,  a  very  little  water, 
bruise  the  weed  so  as  to  obtain  its  juice,  and  use  this  as 
a  wash  until  the  face  gets  well.  The  hair  will  grow  out 
white,  and  you  will  feel  perfectly  satisfied  for  the  trouble 

it  has  cost  you. 

To  spot  a  White  or  Bay  Horse  with  Black  Spots. — The 
curious  sometimes  take  nitrate  of  silver,  about  forty  or 
fifty  grains  to  the  ounce  of  rain  water,  and  paint  the 
places  they  wish  to  make  black,  which  immediately  turns 
the  color  on  one  or  two  applications.  The  speckled  ap- 
pearance that  some  of  the  circus  horses  make  in  the  ring, 
has  been  the  result  of  the  following,  viz:  Take  three 
ounces  of  litharge,  and  six  ounces  quick  lime;  beat  fine, 
mix  them  together,  and  boil  in  two  quarts  of  sharp  ley 
in  a  kettle,  and  you  will  have  a  fatty  substance  that  will 
swim  on  the  surface.  With  this  you  can  paint  the  places 
you  design  to  have  black,  and  it  will  turn  to  that  color 
immediately.  The  marvelous  can  have  their  wishes 
gratified  if  they  wish  to  make  black  spots  on  a  bay 
horse,  by  taking  equal  parts  of  lime  and  litharge,  and 
boiling  them  in  fresh  water  only,  and  what  rises  on  the 
surface  will  be  ready  for  use.  What  hairs  you  touch 
with  this  in  the  evening  will  be  black  the  next  morning. 

A    TRIBUTE    TO    THE    HORSE. 

No.  1.  They  should  always  have  what  they  choose  to 
lick  of  clay  and  salt. 

No.  2.  Give  a  spoonfull  once  a  week  of  equal  parts  of 
alum,  ginger  and  red  pepper  pulverized,  to  be  given  in 
their  food. 

No.  3.  Or  for  old  stagers,  take  one  pound   of  each, 


avery's  own  farrier.  127 

saltpetre,  alum  and  sulphur;  pulverize  and  mix  them  to- 
gether and  feed  a  tablespoon  full  once  a  week. 

No.  4.  Give  a  spoonfull  twice  a  week  of  pure  ground 
mustard,  and  if  the  horse  is  habitually  costive,  add,  once 
a  week,  a  spoonfull  of  sulphur. 

A  change  of  food  occasionally  is  beneficial  to  the 
horse,  but  it  should  be  so  regulated  as  not  to  feed  at  one 
time  very  light  and  loosening  food,  and  at  another  time 
heavy  kinds  of  grain.  For  instance:  not  to  feed  for 
any  length  of  time  all  roots,  apples,  &c.,  and  then  break 
off  from  the  roots,  and  feed  nothing  but  grain.  A 
mixed  diet  is  preferable.  The  grain  you  feed  with  roots 
you  get  the  full  benefit  of,  for  the  peptic  acid  contained 
in  the  roots  causes  a  thorough  digestion  of  the  graiij. 
Judicious  feeding  and  driving  will  do  much  towards  pre- 
venting diseases.  "And  it  is  cheaper  to  pay  the  butcher 
than  the  doctor."  When  you  feed  clear  corn,  new 
or  old,  give  it  to  them  on  the  ear,  or  boil  it  if  you 
choose.  If  you  have  it  ground,  make  it  into  pudding  by 
scalding  it,  but  do  not  feed  dry  meal,  for  it  is  too  often 
destructive.  And  verily  I  say  unto  you  not  to  feed  cob 
meal  at  all,  for  this  is  too  clogging  and  hard  of  diges- 
tion, and  contains  too  much  alkali  for  the  horse;  it  often 
bakes  in  the  maw  and  kills  them. 

Swelled  Legs, — Some  horses  are  troubled  with  swollen 
legs,  caused  by  long  standing  in  the  stable  without  exer- 
cise, or  when  first  brought  in  from  grazing  in  the  fall  of 
the  year.  When  this  is  the  case,  give  sulphur  in  small 
quantities  daily  for  a  week;  give  also,  twice  in  the  week, 
some  powdered  sassafras  bark.  In  the  mean  time  rub 
the   leg  once    a   day  for  a   week   with  the    following: 


128  avery's  own  farrier. 

Take  two  ounces  of  spirits  of  hartshorn,  eight  ounces  of 
olive  oil,  one  ounce  of  gum  camphor,  and  half  a  pint  of 
good  alcohol;  mix  these  together  and  it  is  fit  for  use. 
In  some  obstinate  cases  of  this  kind,  it  may  be  best  to 
muffle  the  limb,  and  sweat  it  by  pouring  on  cold  water. 
And  if  the  horse  is  in  high  condition,  bleed,  regulating 
the  quantity  of  blood  taken  according  to  the  severity  of 
the  case.  But  if  the  difficulty  arises  from  debility  or 
starvation,  then  never  bleed. 

Good  Stable  Management. — "  Consists  in  keeping  the 
stalls  clean,  removing  every  day  all  the  litter  or  bedding 
that  becomes  wet  with  urine,  for  decomposition  very 
soon  commences  after  this  is  saturated  with  urine  and 
excrement,  which  sends  forth  a  vapor  like  hartshorn  and 
gas,"  that  is  very  injurious  to  the  eye,  lungs  and  feet 
of  the  horse.  A  free  use  of  the  card  and  brush  is  indis- 
pensable, and  more  particularly  so  with  the  horse  that 
does  not  have  regular  exercise;  for  this  opens  the  pores 
of  the  skin  and  lets  the  insensible  perspiration  escape, 
which  makes  up  in  a  great  measure  for  the  lack  of  exer- 
cise. A  little  asafoetida  should  be  constantly  kept  in 
the  manger  where  he  eats  his  grain  as  a  preventive 
against  distempers  and  all  infectious  diseases.  And 
where  there  is  or  has  been  any  such  disease  present,  the 
ceiling  and  walls  should  be  washed  with  chloride  of 
lime.  Some  horsemen,  when  they  are  going  to  have  a 
hard  drive  or  day's  work  to  perform,  will  give  their 
horse  extra  rest  and  food,  in  order  to  lay  in  a  greater 
share  of  ability  to  accomplish  it  with.  And  in  fact  I 
have  done  so  myself  (and  experience  is  the  best  of 
teachers);  and  I  have  been  sadly  disappointed   in  his 


avery's  own  farrier.  129 

failing  to  come  up  to  my  expectation  in  proportion  to 
the  extra  care  given  him.  Therefore,  regular  feeding 
and  exercise  are  very  important  in  good  stable  manage- 
ment. When  by  any  cause  you  happen  to  miss  giving 
your  horse  his  regular  meal,  you  should  give  only  the 
usual  quantity  at  the  nexi.  In  the  hands  of  some,  the 
horse  suffers  wonderfully  from  thirst.  Water  should  be 
given  him  a  little  at  a  time,  and  often,  and  in  that  way 
allow  him  all  he  chooses  to  drink,  and  it  will  not  hurt 
him.  But  never  let  him  drink  two  or  three  pailsfuU  at 
a  time,  as  he  often  will  after  going  without  all  day.  and 
more  especially  when  he  is  warm  and  fatigued,  or  when 
he  is  going  to  be  sharply  exercised  immediately  after. 

Feeding  is  a  very  important  part  of  stable  manage- 
ment; and  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me  in  saying  that 
good  oats  are  the  most  natural  and  best  kind  of  grain  for 
steady  feed,  and  for  all  kinds  of  business  that  is  required 
of  the  horse;  although  corn,  barley  or  wheat  may,  with 
advantage,  if  properly  fed,  be  added  to  torm  a  part  of 
his  food  in  cold  weather,  when  he  is  employed  at  the 
heavier  kinds  of  work.  ^'  Oats  are  best  to  be  six  months 
old  at  least,  if  they  have  been  kept  sweet  and  free  from 
must.  The  old  oat  forms,  when  chewed,  a  smooth  and 
uniform  mass,  which  is  easy  of  digestion,  and  yields  all 
the  nourishment  it  contains."  The  oat  is  said  by  chemists 
to  contain  seven  hundred  and  forty-three  parts  out  of  a 
thousand  of  nutritive  matter,  which  is  much  less  than  the 
other  grains  spoken  of  above,  and  they  appear  to  be  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  the  requirements  of  the  horse;  for 
when  he  has  been  long  fed  on  oats  he  has  been  compara- 
tively healthy,  and  not  so  often  attacked  with  colic  or 


130  avery's  own  farrier. 

inflammation  of  any  of  the  internal  organs  as  when  fed 
on  other  kinds  of  grain. 

Feeding  and  rearing  are  closely  connected  with  stable 
management,  and  have  so  much  to  do  with  the  habits  of 
a  good  horse.  Yon  will  allow  me  to  state  here  that 
buckwheat  puts  on  fat  and  helps  form  bone  of  the  ani- 
mal as  fast  as  any  kind  of  grain;  consequently  it  is  good 
for  an  occasional  change  of  diet,  as  well  as  for  its  me- 
dicinal properties.  But  oats  feed  the  muscles  and  give 
better  action  and  livelier  feeling  than  any  other  kind  of 
grain;  and  they  cause  the  colt  to  run  and  play  more, 
giving  strength  and  activity  to  the  limbs  and  muscles. 
Therefore  oats,  being  readily  digested,  plainly  show  why 
they  are  the  best  kind  of  grain  for  common  use.  "Un- 
less the  horse  is  naturally  disposed  to  scour,  ground  food 
is  best."  Many  have  supposed  and  practiced  brining 
the  hay  and  straw,  thinking  that  their  horse  would  eat 
much  better  and  more  of  it.  This  undoubtedly  is  so,  and 
may  be  useful'some  times  to  induce  a  sick  horse  to  eat; 
but  not  unless  he  has  been  shamefully  neglected  before 
by  not  having  what  salt  he  wanted,  when  he  eats  it  for 
the  sake  of  the  salt  alone,  and,  by  so  doing,  eats  too 
much  hay,  if  he  does  not  eat  too  much  must  and  other 
foul  stuff  that  otherwise  injures  him. 

Every  overseer  and  proprietor  of  the  stable  ought  to 
understand  the  nature  and  formation  of  the  foot;  and  I 
might  add  to  the  above  with  propriety  the  shoe  smiths. 
Some  have  frequently  had  the  frog  of  the  foot  pared  out 
very  nicely  in  order  to  give  beauty  to  the  foot:  Why? 
because  it  was  the  prevailing  fashion.  And  after  a  few 
repetitions  of  the  same,  they  would  wonder  why  their 


avery's  own  farrier.  131 

horse  was  lame  or  unsure,  and  they  would  blame  the 
smith  because  their  horse  was  lame,  tender- footed,  hoof- 
contracted,  &c.  Now  in  my  estimation,  what  causes  pain, 
inflammation,  rotten  feet,  and  even  death  itself,  never  adds 
anything  to  beauty.  The  frog  is  the  natural  brace  and 
support  of  the  foot,  and  will  endure  more  knocking  and 
pounding  on  the  pavement  or  macadamized  road  without 
injury,  than  the  horny  part  of  the  hoof — yes,  and  even 
the  hardest  shoe  that  was  ever  made.  The  frog  is  made 
elastic  and  springy  for  this  purpose,  and  will  stand  more 
friction  and  hammering  than  two  pieces  of  hardened  steel 
of  the  same  size.  It  would  have  been  better  for  many 
a  horse  if  the  art  of  shoeing  them  had  never  been  in- 
vented, than  to  have  been  treated  as  they  have  been  in 
this  respect.  Most  of  the  contracted  hoofs,  pumiced  feet, 
and  all  those  kindred  diseases  of  the  feet,  are  attributable 
to  this  abominable  practice.  By  continually  paring 
away  the  frog,  it  causes  it  to  shrivel  up,  and  in  time  you 
get  an  inferior  one,  and  then  the  hoof  contracts  to  it,  and 
thus  come  narrow  heels.  The  broad  heel,  round  and 
tough  foot  that  nature  formed  is  lost.  Therefore  the  im- 
portance of  never  making  the  frog  acquainted  with  the 
knife  at  all,  nor  any  edge  tool  whatever  (except  in  a  state 
of  disease"),  can  not  be  too  often  repeated  to  the  smiths, 
nor  to  others  in  charge  of  your  stables.  No,  not  even  the 
ragged  part  thereof  should  ever  be  touched  with  the  knife, 
for  this  helps  serve  as  a  protection  to  the  envelope  or 
membrane  beneath,  which  again  shields  the  more  sensi- 
tive part  of  the  foot;  and  nature  will  take  care  of  it  with- 
out our  aid,  or  cast  it  off  as  fast  as  it  becomes  cumber- 
some to  her. 


132  avery's  own  farrier. 

Disinfectants,  Deodizers  and  Fertilizers. — By  the  use 
of  disinfectants  we  may  prevent  disease,  give  health  to 
our  animals,  and  make  them  more  useful  and  valuable. 
And  the  thrift  of  many  a  farmer  depends  upon  the  accu- 
mulation and  application  of  his  fertilizers,  which  is  all 
the  bank  he  need  be  directly  interested  in.  Haifa  peck 
of  onions,  halved  and  run  on  a  string,  will  prevent  a 
horse  from  being  infected  with  any  kind  of  disease,  if 
hung  over  him  in  the  stall,  even  if  one  diseased  stands 
in  the  next  stall  to  him.  The  use  of  asafcetida  (as  be- 
fore stated)  and  the  chloride  of  lime,  brought  to  a  solu- 
tion and  applied  to  the  ceiling  and  mangers  where  dis- 
eased animals  have  been  fed,  are  undoubtedly  tw-o  of  the 
best  articles  employed  in  this  way  as  disinfectants.  But 
this  is  not  all  that  can  be  done  in  this  respect.  Where 
horses  are  confined  in  stables,  the  effluvia  or  gases  that 
are  continually  arising  from  filthy  ones,  are  very  injurious 
to  their  health,  and  are  often  the  exciting  cause  of  vari- 
ous diseases.  This  is  w^itnessed  in  our  cities  most,  or 
where  there  are  a  great  many  of  them  crowded  together. 
Nor  is  this  all  the  harm  that  is  done  by  the  stench  that 
arises  from  large  stables  being  filled  w^th  these  useful 
animals.  The  common,  or  atmospheric  air,  becomes 
overcharged  with  these  poisonous  gases,  and  is  thus 
drawn  into  the  lungs  of  the  horse,  yes,  and  men's  too, 
often  causing  violent  and  loathsome  disease  in  both. 
There  is  a  remedy  for  this,  or  an  agent  that  will  in  a 
great  measure  prevent  this  evil,  which  is  to  be  found  in 
the  common  or  muck  earth,  brought  from  the  forest. 
One  peck  of  either  of  these  strewn  under  the  horse  at 
night,  and  then  covered   with  straw  to  bed  him  in  the 


Avery's  own  farrier.  133 

usual  way,  will  entirely  eradicate  this  evil.  As  often  as 
necessary  for  the  above  purpose,  it  should  be  removed 
and  placed  on  the  compost  heap  in  the  yard,  and  the 
stalls  replenished  with  new,  fresh  earth;  and  if  there 
should  be  a  sprinkling  of  either  or  both  of  powdered 
charcoal  and  plaster  of  paris,  mixed  with  it  as  it  was 
put  in  the  stalls,  it  would  be  all  the  better,  and  would 
more  than  doubly  pay  the  expense  as  a  fertilizer.  The 
muck  earth,  as  well  as  the  other  articles  named,  absorb 
the  juices  from  whence  this  gas  arises,  and  thus  purifies 
the  air  of  the  stable,  and  instead  of  being  left  to  waste, 
and  work  its  worst  influence  on  all  that  breathe  it,  it  is 
turned  to  a  profitable  account  as  a  fertilizer.  Forest 
leaves  and  saw  dust  may  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  the 
above,  and  as  forming  a  part  of  the  bedding  to  advantage. 

It  is  better  to  feed  from  a  rack  where  they  will  have 
to  reach  up  a  little  after  their  food,  not  only  because 
their  necks  will  come  up  better,  but  because  reaching 
down  is  injurious  to  the  knees,  &c.  And  where  they  are 
to  be  fed  from  a  manger,  the  bottom  thereof  should  be 
raised  as  high  as  their  knees  on  this  account. 

In  the  best  regulated  armies  of  the  world,  the  hay  as 
well  as  the  grain,  is  weighed  out  to  each  horse;  twenty- 
five  pounds  of  hay  being  considered  all  he  ought  to  eat 
in  ttventy-four  hours,  on  account  of  his  health,  and  hav- 
ing him  fit  for  hard  service.  The  horse  should  not  be 
fed  more  at  a  time  than  he  will  eat,  to  have  it  left  for 
him  to  breath'e  over. 

12 


134  avery's  own  farrier. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"  The  world  is  my  country,  and  to  do  good  is  my  religion." 

GLANDERS    AND   FARCY. 

This  is  a  very  difficult  and  important  part  of  this  work, 
and  the  more  so  in  consequence  of  its  always  being  con- 
si(iered  so  fatal  to  the  horse,  and  embarrassing  because 
it  has  been  pronounced  incurable  (by  the  learned  pro- 
fession) from  time  immemorial.  Perhaps  I  am  the  first 
to  say  that  it  has  been  cured.  It  is  as  easily  managed  as 
many  other  diseases.  Among  the  various  remedies  here- 
tofore given  there  seem  to  be  only  two  worthy  of  notice, 
or  of  much  consequence  to  the  horse  or  its  owner,  viz: 
The  first  of  these  is,  to  destroy  the  glandered  horse  im- 
mediately on  suspicion  being  confirmed  that  he  is  such, 
for  the  safety  of  others  around  him.  Now,  this  one 
certainly  contains  a  moral  that  I  can  not  object  to,  pro- 
vided the  parties  interested  give  their  consent.  The 
second  consists  in  trading  him  off  as  soon  as  you  have 
any  suspicion  of  his  having  the  glanders.  This  I  will 
not  attempt  to  answer  here,  only  by  saying,  as  Michael 
Hoffman  said  when  challenged  to  fight,  bad. 

Before  I  became  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  rava- 
ges of  this  disease,  I  used  to  wonder  and  think  it  strange 
that,  among  the  thousand  and  one  diseases  that  this  noble 
creature  was  liable  to,  this  one  alone  w^as  incurable, 
while  all  the  rest  had  so  many  remedies  given  for  their 
cure.  And  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  now,  that  this 
declaration,  coming  as  often  as  it  has  from  the  learned 
(of  the  old  school),  has  deterred  many  from  an  investi- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  135 

gation  of  this  subject.  For  man  can  do  almost  anything 
if  he  only  thinks  so,  and  sets  himself  to  work  in  earnest 
about  it,  or,  to  say  the  least,  what  has  been  done  can  be 
done  again.  Now,  supposing  you  were  on  board  of  a 
sinking  ship  at  sea,  which  would  be  the  best  course  to 
pursue,  to  proceed  at  once  to  stop  the  leak  and  thus  save 
the  vessel,  or  all  hands  go  to  bailing  and  pumping  until 
she  sunk  with  all  on  board?  I  think  you  will  agree  with 
me  that  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  Hnd  the  leak  and 
then  stop  it.  Thus  it  has  been  with  this  disease  of  the 
horse;  all  hands  have  engaged  in  pumping  until  the 
vessel  has  sunk  to  the  bottom,  or  they  have  added  fuel 
to  the  flame,  by  administering  those  nostrums  that  in- 
creased the  difficulty  instead  of  arresting  it,  until  the 
horse  has  rotted  down  with  the  glanders.  But  they  have 
never  found  the  leak,  consequently  they  did  not  know 
how  to  go  to  work  to  stop  it.  Glanders  in  the  first 
stages  is  merely  a  local  disease,  which  is  as  easily  cured 
then  as  any  other.  But  when  allowed  to  run  on  until  it 
becomes  general,  the  difficulty  increases  in  proportion 
as  the  disease  approximates  death.  There  is  a  constant 
secretion  of  fluid  from  the  glands  to  lubricate  and  moisten 
the  membrane  that  lines  the  cavity  of  the  nose,  and 
which,  in  cases  of  colds  or  catarrh,  is  increased  in  quan- 
tity and  altered  in  appearance  and  consistence.  It  is 
also  lessened  and  drred  in  cases  of  fever,  &c.  *'  But 
what  is  to  be  considered  here,  is  the  continued  and  pro- 
fuse discharge  of  thickened  mucus  from  the  nose,  af:er 
every  symptom  of  catarrh  and  fever  have  passed  away," 
which  is  either  continually  running,  or  snorted  out  by 
the  horse  in  masses,  and  finally  leads   on  to  glanders. 


136  avery's  own  farrier. 

This  inside  lining,  or  membrane  of  the  nostrils,  affords 
the  same  assistance  to  the  veterinarian  as  the  tongue  of 
a  person  does  to  the  physician  in  cases  of  fevers,  &c. 
Or,  in  a  word,  it  is  the  thermometer  of  the  lungs.  When 
the  horse  is  in  health,  this  membrane  assumes  an  even 
color,  bearing  to  that  of  a  pink  flush;  but  in  inflammation 
it  sympathises  with  other  parts,  and  partakes  of  a  darker 
red  Inflammation  of  the  lungs,  however,  as  well  as 
glanders,  sometimes  gives  it  purple  spots.  It  is  ex- 
tremely sensitive  for  the  purpose  of  smell,  &c  ,  and  is 
indicative  of  the  severity  and  character  of  disease.  It 
often  suffers  from  the  poisonous  vapors  arising  in  ill- 
ventilated  and  worse  cleaned  stables;  for  such  ones 
oftenest  witness  the  ravages  of  glanders.  Every  exciting 
cause  of  disease  exerts  its  chief  and  worst  influence  on 
the  membrane  of  the  nose.  "And  there  are  scarcely  any 
other  disease  of  the  horse  which  may  not  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  glanders." 

Glanders  is  in  a  high  degree  contagious,  but  unless 
this  glandery  matter  comes  in  contact  with  some  broken 
skin,  sore,  or  delicate  membrane,  as  that  of  the  nostrils, 
it  is  not  likely  to  produce  a  similar  disease.  But  in  this 
way  man  is  as  liable  to  be  infected  with  it  as  the  horse, 
and  may  prove  as  fatal  to  him;  consequently  great  care 
is  lequisite  in  handling  a  glandery  horse,  and  this  should 
not  be  lost  sight  of  for  a  moment  if  you  should  ever  have 
the  curiosity  to  dissect  one  that  has  died  with  this  dis- 
ease, for  if  you  should  happen  to  cut  even  your  finger 
(during  the  operation)  with  the  knife  that  is  besmeared 
with  the  blood  or  any  of  this  matter,  you  are  infected 
with  it. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  137 

Glanders  is  a  local  disease,  in  the  first  place,  and 
commences  on  the  glands  and  membrane  of  the  nose. 
It  is  caused  by  neglected  colds,  catarrh,  and  many  other 
diseases,  as  well  as  by  bad  stable  management  and  con- 
tagion, which  leaves  a  taint  on  this  sensitive  organ,  and, 
if  not  arrested  in  time  either  by  art  or  nature,  it  soon 
reaches  the  salivary  glands,  which  causes  them  to  harden 
and  swell.  The  horse  may  remain  in  this  stage  of  the 
disease,  comparatively,  for  a  considerable  time,  without 
becoming  materially  affected  in  health  or  usefulness. 
"Although  he  may  have  given  it  to  great  numbers  of 
others  that  have  been  hurried  off  to  the  shades  before 
him,"  unless  some  other  exciting  cause  of  disease  sets 
in  with  it,  he  may  continue  along  indefinitely.  Some 
have  attempted  to  dry  up  this  superfluous  discharge  at 
the  nose,  thinking  that  was  all  that  was  required  to 
effect  a  cure,  or  get  them  in  a  condition  to  trade  off  to 
advantage.  But  they  have  been  wofully  disappointed. 
To  expect  a  cure,  this  discharge  must  be  promoted  in- 
stead of  trying  to  dry  it  up,  and  at  the  same  time  cleanse 
and  heal  this  membrane  and  glands,  and  restore  them  to 
their  office  and  original  purity.  '•  It  will  be  borne  in 
mind,  that  this  discharge  at  the  nose  of  the  horse, 
answers  him  the  same  purpose  that  spitting  does  with 
the  human  species." 

Symptoms  that  characterize  this  disease  in  the  first 
stages  thereof,  are  an  increased  discharge  from  the  nose, 
and  from  whatever  cause  it  may  arise,  it  must  be  re- 
garded with  suspicion.  But  when  it  continues  for  any 
length  of  time,  and  is  small  in  quantity  and  thin  in 
appearance,  and  the  glands  swell,  and  cleave  or  adhere 


138  avery's  own  farrier. 

to  the  jaw  bone,  whether  the  matter  discharged  from 
the  nose  be  purulent  or  gluey,  it  matters  not;  no  time 
should  be  lost  before  using  the  following  remedies,  which 
are  worth  a  good  horse  to  any  one  having  much  to  do 
with  horses,  for  its  reliability  in  preventing  and  curing 
this  disease. 

Cure. — First,  let  the  horse  inhale  the  fumes  or  steam 
of  saltpetre  dissolved  in  vinegar,  poured  on  a  hot  stone 
under  his  nose,  for  a  few  minutes  each  day,  for  a  week, 
each  day  after  this  has  been  done,  anoint  the  septum  of 
the  nose  well  up  in  both  nostrils,  with  the  following, 
by  means  of  a  piece  of  sponge  fastened  to  a  whalebone 
or  splinter:  Take  one  drachm  of  kreosote,  one  ounce  of 
lard,  and  triturate  them  together,  when  it  is  fit  for  use. 
For  a  few  days  after  this  use  mullen  oil  in  the  nose,  as 
above;  and  if  the  glands  are  much  enlarged,  or  cleave 
to  either  jawbone  instead  of  hanging  loose  between 
them,  as  they  do  in  health,  rub  them  also,  and  the  jaw 
about  where  they  cleave,  with  frog's  oil.  This  changes 
the  action  of  the  mucus  membranes,  and  consequently 
changes  the  matter  sent  forth,  restoring  the  parts  to  health. 
Reader,  do  not  suppose  that  this  is  all  there  is  of  this 
disease,  nor  all  that  can  be  said  of  it  here,  for  I  have 
only  given  you  the  treatment  to  be  observed  in  the  first 
stages  thereof.  But  go  with  me  a  little  further  and  see 
what  it  may  lead  to.  Sooner  or  later,  according  to  the 
condition  and  constitution  of  the  animal,  this  poisonous 
matter,  arising  from  the  foregoing  causes,  after  tainting 
the  above  named  organs,  is  taken  up,  and,  by  the  activity 
of  the  absorbents,  is  thrown  into  the  circulation  of  the 
blood,  and  then  diffused  over  every  part  of   the  system 


avery's  own  farrier.  139 

and  carried  by  the  blood  vessels  into  the  lungs,  "where 
all  the   blood  passes  many  times  every  hour,  and  there 
undergoes  a  change,"  by  exposure  to  air,  &c.  j  therefore, 
it  is  of  permanent  importance  to  preserve  the  blood  in  a 
healthy  condition,  because  the   blood    is  the  vital  fluid 
and  principle  of  life;   and  when  it  is  affected,  the  whole 
organization  is  affected  also.     When  this  poison  enters 
the  circulating  fluid,  then  it   is  that  this  disease   begins 
to  become  general,  and  loses  the  title  of  the  local  one. 
Diseased  particles  being  carried  into  the  lungs  with  the 
blood,  these  oigans  are  next  to  suffer  from  this  poison, 
whence  arise  little  tubercles  on  them;  after  the   forma- 
tion of  which,  there  may  be  seen  very  small   ulcers  and 
purple  spots  on    the  inside  of  the  nostrils.     The  matter 
discharged  from  these  is  more  varied  in  color  and  con- 
sistence— that  is,  more   purulent   at   times,  and  gluey  or 
streaked  with  red    at  others,  which  mislead   as  to  the 
character  of  this  disease. 

Here  is  a  very  critical  period  of  this  disease.  It  is 
either  carried  now  by  the  large  blood  vessels  to  the  head, 
when  the  brain  becomes  the  principal  seat  and  sufferer 
(of  which  I  shall  speak  hereafter)  or  it  is  taken  along 
by  the  absorbents  to  the  extremities.  "  Along  the 
course  of  these  absorben's  are  natural  valves  of  the  lining 
membrane  thereof,  which  are  pressed  against  the  sides 
of  the  vessels,  and  permit  the  fluid  to  pass  in  a  direction 
towards  the  chest,  impeding  its  progress  from  the  chest." 
This  poisonous  matter,  coming  in  contact  with  these 
sensitive  organs,  excite  and  cause  them  to  become  in- 
flamed and  swollen,  which  makes  them  appear  like 
corded  veins   that  rise  up  and   break,  from  which  oozes 


140  a\ery's  own  farrier. 

more  of  this  poisonous  matter.  Before  these  break  they 
have  been  called  by  farriers,  farcy  buds,  which  has  given 
the  disease  the  name  of  farcy.  They  are  evident  to  the 
eye,  and  will  first  be  observed  about  the  lips,  inside  of 
the  thighs,  and  along  the  flanks.  This  is  by  no  means 
the  most  alarming  stage  of  the  disease;  for  even  now 
the  horse  has  been  restored  to  health  and  usefulness  by 
the  following  management,  viz:  attend  strictly  to  the 
directions  given  for  cure  in  the  first  stage,  &c. ;  and  if 
these  buds  have  broken,  syringe  themwiih  rum,  contain- 
ing a  little  blue  vitriol  and  loaf  sugar  dissolved.  Feed 
the  horse  from  four  to  eight  quarts  of  buckwheat  a  day 
for  a  week  or  more.  After  which  he  may  have  some 
tonic  medicine  given  to  strengthen  and  invigorate  the 
system,  but  never  bleed  in  case  of  glanders. 

Such  medicines  as  can  not  be  concealed  in  the  animal's 
food,  is  best  to  be  given  in  the  form  of  drinks,  and  in 
some  cases  the  quantity  to  be  given  is  so  small  that  too 
much  is  absorbed  before  reaching  the  place  you  wish  it 
to  act  upon  most.  Therefore  if  you  can  get  any  kind  of 
food  that  contains  the  same  medicinal  properties,  it  has 
a  better  effect  upon  the  system  generally  than  any  medi- 
cine that  you  can  give  in  small  quantities.  Of  this  the 
buckwheat  is  an  example  in  the  cases  it  is  recommended 
for. 

When  the  above  symptoms  of  this  disease  have  been 
witnessed,  the  brain  or  head  is  left  comparatively 
healthy  except  this  nasal  discharge.  But  when  they  are 
not,  and  the  inflammation  of  the  nasal  organs  or  glands, 
has  continued  for  a  considerable  time  without  their  ap- 
pearing, then  it  has  been  carried  in  a  more  direct  channel 


avery's  own  farrier.  141 

to  tbe  head  through  the  large  blood  vessels,  when  the 
brain  becomes  affected  with  the  poison,  and  then  it  is 
that  the  disease  is  more  likely  to  prove  fatal,  and  has 
led  some  to  suppose  that  the  disease  originated  in  this 
organ.  At  this  stage  it  is  that  the  symptonis  of  the  dis- 
ease are  different  from  what  they  were  in  the  foregoing 
stages,  in  this  respect.  The  nasal  discharge  is  increased 
and  of  a  darker  color  or  blackish,  and  sometimes  streaked 
with  blood,  and  the  whole  system  is  more  rapidly  in- 
volved by  it.  There  will  be  an  evident  tenderness  about 
the  temples  and  forehead,  accompanied  with  heat,  &c. ; 
the  eyes  run,  and  all  the  little  sinuses  or  cells  of  the  face 
and  head  are  filled  with  matter. 

Cure^  if  there  he  any. — Continue  the  above  remedies 
faithfully.  It  may  be  expedient  to  rowel  the  throat  or 
jaw  near  the  place  where  this  gland  cleaves  to  it.  The 
forehead  and  temples  should  be  rubbed  well  every  day 
with  the  mullen  oil.  "  Iodine,  in  the  form  of  iodide  of 
potash,"  says  Small,  "  is  useful  and  scarcely  ever  fails  to 
disperse  enlargement  of  the  glands,  or  hardened  tumors, 
whether  under  or  at  the  sides  of  the  jaw,  or  round  the 
joints."  One  part  of  the  iodide  of  potash  must  be  mixed 
with  six  of  lard,  and  the  ointment  well  rubbed  round  the 
parts  every  day.  This  may  be  employed  to  advantage  in 
the  room  of  the  rowels  spoken  of  above.  The  same  is 
also  very  useful  to  arrest  the  growth  of  tubercles  on  the 
lungs,  and  even  to  disperse  them  when  recently  fortned. 
And  when  there  is  a  cough  attending  ihe  other  symptoms 
of  glanders,  the  iodide  of  potash  may  be  given  in  doses 
of  three  grains,  morning  and  evening,  in  bran  mashes, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  treatment,  and  gradually 


142  AVERY  S    OWN    FARRIER. 

increased  to  six  grains,  and  continued  until  the  cough 
abates  and  the  condition  of  the  horse  has  improved;  or 
the  ergot  of  rye  may  be  used  internally,  as  a  substitute 
for  the  iodide  of  potash. 

The  brain  of  a  horse  that  dies  of  glanders,  is  some- 
tiroes  wholly  changed  to  a  sort  of  gangrenous  matter; 
or  near  the  base  of  the  brain  there  will  appear  a  sack 
filled  with  the  same.  Veterinarians  have  bored  through 
the  frontal  bone  of  the  face  for  the  purpose  of  letting  out 
the  matter  collected  in  the  cells  and  sinuses  of  the  head, 
without  any  injuries  resulting  to  the  horse.  Shepherds 
have  been  successful  in  curing  what  they  call  water  in 
the  head  of  sheep,  by  running  a  sharpened  wire  up  the 
nostrils,  through  the  sack  that  contained  this  water  on  the 
brain,  and  thus  let  it  out;  and  sometimes  they  have  bored 
through  the  skull  for  the  same  purpose  with  equal  suc- 
cess, penetrating  the  brain  in  both  instances.  The  brain 
of  a  horse  may  be  bored  into,  or  cut,  or  even  a  part  of 
it  extracted,  without  destroying  the  life  of  the  animal. 
You  may  cut  the  brain  without  producing  any  sensation 
of  pain  to  the  horse,  notwithstanding  you  hurt  any  other 
part,  while  at  the  same  time  the  brain  being  the  seat  of 
pain.  Why,  says  some  one,  this  is  a  very  broad  asser- 
tion. Very  well,  1  know  it  involves  the  question  again 
of  this  organ  being  the  motive  power,  or  the  originator 
of  all  the  motions  of  the  limbs,  &c.,  which  might  be  car- 
ried much  farther  than  my  time  or  purpose  would  admit 
of  here.  But  if  it  were  not  for  the  sensation  produced 
by  this  organ  on  other  parts,  it  would  not  produce  pain 
to  cut  off  a  leg  any  more  than  it  would  to  cut  off  a  stick 
of  wood. 


aveky's  own  farrier.  143 

Will  sorae  genius  have  the  goodness  to  tell  us  in  what 
way  we  irjay  be  able  to  save  the  life  of  a  glandery  horse 
after  the  disease  has  so  far  advanced  that  medicine  can 
not  save  him  from  his  untimely  doom? 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CRITERIA    OF    AGE,    &C. 


"It  is  not  what  people  profess  that  makes  them  righteous,  but 
what  tliey  possess  "  and  practice. 

To  be  able  to  judge  correctly  as  to  the  age  of  the 
horse,  by  those  who  are  dealing  in  them,  is  of  great  im- 
portance, as  the  real  value  of  a  horse  so  often  depends 
on  this  one  point,  because  there  is  so  much  jockt-ying 
practiced  in  this  respect.  To  do  this  with  perfection 
would  require  something  more  than  book  learning;  it 
would  require  the  closest  observation,  with  the  experi- 
ence of  years,  of  the  teeth  and  other  parts,  of  such 
animals  as  you  might  know  the  age  of,  as  well  as  others, 
from  the  youngest  to  the  oldest,  which  is  the  true  school 
in  which  to  graduate  in  this  particular  branch  of  instruc- 
tion. Although  much  may  be  learned  from  books  to 
assist  one  in  his  observations, yet  after  a  little  experience 
in  this  way,  he  need  not  be  deceived  much  as  to  the  age 
of  a  horse. 

The  colt  should  be  foaled  with  four  front  teeth,  two 
upper  and  two  lower  ones,  though  it  often  happens  that 
he  is  foaled  without  any;  but  in  this  case,  these  front 
teeth  soon  appear,  for  he   can  not  suck  well  until  they 


M4  avery's  own  farrier. 

do.     With  these  also  appear  four  double  teeth,  or  grind- 
ers, viz:  one  in   each  jaw  above   and  below,   and  have 
been  called  the  first  of  the   natural  mill  stones,  used  for 
the  purpose  of  grinding  down  the  vegetable  fibre  and  fit 
it   for   swallowing  and  easy  digestion.     Having  already 
his  four   front  teeth,  which   are  called  the  pinchers,  at 
about  ten  days  old  the  colt  puts  forth  four  others,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  former   ones,  above  and  below,  called 
the  separators.     At  about  two  months  old,  he  begins  to 
shed  his   first   coat,  which  may  be  seen   in  small  spots 
about   the  hocks,  thighs  and  nose,  which  he  generally 
gets  entirely  rid  of  by  the  time  he  is  four   months  old. 
The  time  of  cutting   all   his  first  teeth  varies,  however, 
according  to  the  maturity  of  the  colt  at  the  time  of  par- 
turition, and  the  fare  he  happens  to  meet  with  afterwards. 
Somewhere  from  six  to  ten  months  old  he  cuts  the  four 
corner  teeth;  after  these  are  up  there  is  not  much  ob- 
servable difference  in  the  front  teeth  (except  in  the  wear 
of   them)    until    after    the    colt    is  past   two  years  old. 
"  During  this  time,  resource  must  be  had  mainly  to  the 
coat   alone.     A  yearling  colt  has  a  rough  coat,  some- 
thing like  that  of  a  water  spaniel  dog;  and  the  hair  of 
the  mane  and   tail   feels  soft  like  flax,  and  hangs  like 
untwisted  ropes;  whereas,    a   two-year   old    has   a    flat 
coat,  mane  and  tail,  like  that  of  an  old  horse."     At  one 
year  old,  the  colt   has  four  grinders  above  and  below,  in 
each  jaw;  at  two  years  old  the  fifth  pair  will  appear  to 
view,  and  at  three  years  old,  the   sixth,  making  twenty- 
four  grinders  in  all.     The  teeth  that  first  appear  are  the 
first  to  be  shed,  and  their  places  supplied  with  new  ones. 
Therefore,  the  first  grinders  are   changed  at  two  years 


avery's  own  farrier.  145 

old;  at  three  or  three  and  a  half,  thesecond  pair  will 
be  shed.  A\  four  years  old,  the  sixth  pair  of  grinders 
will  be  level  with  the  others,  and  the  tushes  will  begin 
to  push  up.  From  four  to  five  years  old,  the  last  im- 
portant change  in  the  colt's  teeth  takes  place;  the  corner 
teeth  are  shed,  and  the  tushes  are  up.  The  three  last 
pair  of  grinders  and  the  tushes  are  not  shed  or  changed 
for  new  ones  at  all. 

But  we  will  now  go  back  for  the  purpose  of  examin- 
ing the  colt's  teeth  a  little  further,  which  are  always 
large  and  broad  compared  with  those  that  follow  them. 
From  two  to  two  and  a  half  years  old,  they  shed  the  four 
first  front  teetfi,  which  are  supplied  with  new  ones,  like 
all  the  rest,  in  regular  rotation  as  they  first  appeared. 
From  three  to  three  and  a  half  years  old,  they  shed  the 
four  next,  or  separators;  and  from  four  to  four  and  a  half, 
they  shed  the  four  corner  teeth,  as  stated  above.  "  The 
horse  carries  forty  teeth,  viz,  twenty-four  grinders, 
twelve  front  teeth,  and  four  tushes,"  which  are  called 
his  horse  teeth,  while  the  mare  has  onlv  thirty-six,  she 
not  generally  having  the  four  tushes  except  in  old  age. 

We  are  now  done  with  the  colt  teeth,  and  will  pro- 
ceed to  say  something  more  about  those  of  the  horse. 
His  front  teeth  appear  in  the  skeleton  like  several  rings, 
placed  one  inside  the  other,  forming  a  rough  surface  for 
the  purpose  of  masticating  food,  &c.,  or  like  a  nest  of 
crucibles  with  their  glazed  and  hardened  edges  sufficient 
to  withstand  the  fire,  and  melt  whatever  metal  may  be 
placed  in  them.  While  in  nature,  the  inside  ones  are 
hollow,  as  follows:  There   is   a  deep  black   hole   in  the 

centre  of  each  tooth  of  an  oblong  shape,  which  is  shortest 

13 


146  avery's  own  farrier. 

in  the  middle  teeth,  a  little  longer  in  the  next,  or  sepa- 
rators, and  longest  in  the  corner  teeth.  Between  the 
age  of  five  and  six,  the  four  front  teeth  fill  up  in  the 
centre,  and,  instead  of  the  holes  above  mentioned,  have 
only  a  black  ring.  Between  the  age  of  six  and  seven, 
the  four  separators  fill  up  in  a  like  manner.  And  be- 
tween seven  and  nine,  the  corner  teeth  fill  up  also;  but, 
generally  speaking,  the  corner  teeth  present  a  level  sur- 
face at  eight  years  old.  You  can  not  depend  on  the  wear 
of  the  teeth  as  much  as  a  great  many  have  imagined. 
Something  may  be  known  relative  to  the  age  of  the  horse 
by  the  tushes,  which  are  sharp  on  the  point,  and  have 
two  grooves  on  the  inside  of  them  running  from  the 
point  quite  down  to  the  gum.  The  tushes  continue  to 
grow  in  size  until  the  horse  is  about  eight  or  nine  years 
old,  after  which  they  begin  to  be  more  blunt  on  the  point, 
and  smooth  on  the  inside.  At  the  age  of  ten,  these 
grooves  are  scarcely  discernible  by  the  eye  or  finger, 
and  at  twelve  they  wholly  disappear,  when  the  tush 
becomes  quite  round  and  blunt,  and  is  of  no  further  use 
for  the  object  in  question,  except  in  the  wear  of  them. 
The  front  teeth  are  always  broad  and  thin  in  a  young 
horse,  and  grow  thicker  and  narrower  with  age,  until  he 
is  twelve  years  old,  when  they  become  as  thick  as  they 
are  broad,  at  which  time  they  begin  to  round  off  and  he 
is  said  to  be  in  his  teens.  After  he  arrives  at  this  age, 
the  teeth  wear  off  quite  fast,  and  by  the  time  he  is  from 
fifteen  to  twenty,  the  front  teeth  become  entirely  round. 
The  gum  also  (in  a  young  horse),  covering  the  front 
teeth,  has  the  form  of  a  low  arch,  and  as  the  teeth  round 
off  the   gum   settles  down  between    them,  making   the 


avery's  own  farrier.  147 

teeth  look  longer  and  the  arch  higher,  until  it  takes  the 
shape  of  a  gothic  roof,  so  that  the  smaller  and  rounder 
the  teeth,  and  the  more  the  gum  approximates  this  shape, 
the  greater  the  age  of  the  horse  must  be.  Now  these 
marks  of  the  teeth  seldom,  if  ever,  all  fail  in  the  same 
mouth.  Though  one  or  two  may  vary  a  few  years,  a 
majority  of  them  will  disclose  the  truth  as  to  the  real 
age,  &c. 

'*  The  general  indications  of  old  age,  independent  of 
the  teeth,  are  deepening  of  the  hollows  over  the  eyes, 
gray  hairs  about  the  forehead  and  nose,  thinness  and 
hanging  down  of  the  lips,  sharpness  of  the  withers,  and 
sinking  of  the  back,  accompanied  with  a  tetering  gait." 

Much  can  be  told  by  the  general  appearance  and 
action  of  the  horse  relative  to  his  age.  But  this  is  not 
all;  there  are  certain  marks  whereby  the  age  may  be 
determined  pretty  accurately  by  a  close  observer.  Until 
he  arrives  at  the  age  of  seven  or  eight  years  old,  the 
eyelids  are  marked  only  by  very  fine  wrinkles  that  num- 
ber from  six  to  eight.  Every  successive  year  after  this, 
there  is  an  evident  deepening  of  one  of  those  wrinkles 
that  the  age  maybe  counted  from,  after  he  is  eight  years 
old,  when  the  gray  hairs  will  begin  to  appear.  Although 
these  marks  are  not  very  reliable  to  the  casual  observer, 
yet  some  may  profit  by  them. 

There  is  another  method  of  knowing  when  a  horse  is 
past  twelve  years  old,  viz:  the  inside  of  the  nostrils  are 
red  or  flesh  color,  which  comes  down  on  a  true  circle 
generally  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the  rim  or  hair  on 
the  muzzle.  Below  the  edge  of  this  red  circle,  the  color 
of  the  nostril  is  of  a  darker  tint,  varying  according  to  the 


148  avery's  own  farrier. 

color  of  the  horse;  and  after  the  horse  is  past  twelve, 
the  edge  of  this  ciicle  begins  to  be  broken  up  with  w^hile 
spots,  making  it  look  like  saw  teeth,  or  one  of  these  white 
spots  will  sometimes  appear  half  an  inch  below  the  circle, 
and  about  as  large  as  a  common  sized  pea,  which  in- 
creases in  size  with  the  age  of  the  horse,  or  another  one 
is  added  every  year.  These  marks,  also,  may  aid  one 
considerably  in  determining  the  age;  but  to  have  them 
reliable,  they  must  have  been  examined  previous  to  their 
appearance.  And  again  there  are  other  marks  whereby 
a  man  of  observation  may  tell  the  age  of  a  horse  as  well 
in  the  dark  as  by  daylight,  that  is,  by  feeling  of  the  lips, 
jaws,  neck  and  tail,  which  are  as  follows:  The  neck  of 
all  horses  under  the  age  of  four  years,  will  feel  perfectly 
smooth  from  the  head  to  the  breast,  notwithstanding  the 
condition  they  may  be  in.  At  the  age  of  five  years  you 
can  feel  on  either  side  of  the  neck,  about  midway  from 
the  jaw  to.  the  breast,  a  small  bunch  about  the  size  of 
half  a  chestnut;  also  by  passing  the  fingers  immediately 
over  the  cervical  vertebrae  or  bones  of  the  neck,  which 
are  seven  in  number,  consequently  there  are  six  joints  in 
the  neck,  exclusive  of  where  they  join  on  to  the  head 
and  back;  and  every  five  years  adds  another  bunch  over 
one  of  these  joints,  until  there  may  be  six  counted.  These 
bunches  grow  somewhat  after  they  can  be  felt,  and  are 
plain  to  be  seen  with  the  eye  in  old  age,  which  is  caused 
by  the  shrinking  away  of  the  flesh  between  the  joints. 
The  same  rule  holds  good  also  with  the  tail,  with  only 
this  difference:  the  joint  next  to'the  body  is  the  first  to 
appear  enlarged,  which  takes  place  about  the  time  they 
shed  the  first  colt  teeth;  and  each  year  adds  one  other 


Avery's  own  farrier.  149 

enlarged  or  matured  joint,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the 
tail,  which  generally  numbers  fifteen.  These  marks  may 
vary  a  trifle  in  different  horses^  but,  generally,  they  are 
as  plainly  felt  as  the  nose  on  a  man's  face.  The  jaw 
bone  of  all  young  horses  is  quite  as  thick  and  round  on 
the  edge,  and  near  the  bifurcation  or  junction  above  the 
chin,  as  your  finger.  At  about  eight  or  nine  years  old, 
this  bone  begins  to  flatten  and  grow  sharper  on  the  edge, 
until  you  find  it  in  a  very  old  horse  as  sharp  as  the  back 
of  a  knife  blade.  Now  a  careful  and  experienced  hand 
in  this  matter  can  tell  the  age  of  any  horse  by  feeling, 
with  his  eyes  closed,  certainly  within  two  or  three  years, 
and  some  will  not  vary  over  one  year  in  going  over  a 
dozen  horses. 


«  ♦  ♦  » » 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

YELLOW  WATER  AND  JAUNDICE. 

This  is  a  very  common  disease  in  some  sections  of  the 
country;  and  being  infectious,  it  is  sometimes  brought 
into  our  cities  by  horses  intended  for  the  market,  &c.  It 
is  also  extremely  fatal  in  its  consequences,  unless  some 
measures  are  taken  in  the  commencement  of  the  disease 
to  impede  its  progress. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  attending  this  disease  are 
very  striking;  the  eyes,  lips  and  bars  of  the  mouth  as- 
sume a  yellowish  cast,  and  attending  which  are  low 
spirits  and  loss  of  appetite.  The  excrement  is  hard  and 
yellow,  or  of  a  bright  color.  The  urine  will  be  of  a  very 
dark  color,   and,   after   being  discharged  a  little  while, 


160  avery's  own  farrier. 

looks  like  blood.  One  evident  symptom  of  this  disease 
will  appear  on  pulling  out  some  of  the  hair  from  the 
mane  or  tail,  which  will  be  dry  and  curled  on  the  end 
and  yellowish,  instead  of  white  as  in  health.  The  whole 
circulating  fluid  of  the  system  appears  to  be  affected  by 
this  disease,  which  proceeds  from  a  disordered  liver.  To 
effect  a  cure  the  bile  needs  to  be  regulated,  which  helps 
to  restore  the  blood  to  its  former  healthy  condition. 

Cure. — Take  two  drachms  each  of  gum  camphor  and 
asafoetida,  dissolve  and  give  as  a  drench  every  morning 
in  a  pint  of  old  cider.  Make  a  tea  by  steeping  the  bark 
of  the  common  wild  black  cherry  tree,  scalding  a  gallon 
of  wheat  bran  with  it,  and  give  the  horse  everyday, 
after  adding  a  spoonfull  of  the  dried  and  pulverized  root 
of  burdock.  Be  sure  not  to  bleed.  Let  his  exercise  be 
regular  but  not  hard;  give  him  a  good  rubbing  and 
stabling,  and  his  health  will  soon  improve. 

Recipe  for  the  Cure  of  Yellow  Water. — Take  two  hen's 
eggs  and  two  spoonsfuU  of  soot,  or  powdered  charcoal; 
beat  them  together,  and  give  fhe  horse  every  day  until 
he  is  better;  in  bran,  if  he  will  eat  it  prepared  in  this 
way;  if  not,  prepare  some  more  and  give  in  a  drench  of 
cherry  or  mint  tea. 

DEAFNESS. 

9 

I  would  as  soon  drive  a  blind  horse  as  a  deaf  one,  and 
it  much  oftener  happens  to  be  the  case.  People  do  not 
generally  know  or  think  what  the  difficulty  is  with  their 
horse.  You  may  know  when  the  horse  is  troubled  wiih 
deafness,  by  his  not  paying  any  regard  to  the  word  of 
his  master,   either  in  starting  or   stopping,  until  he  sees 


avery's  own  farrier.  151 

or  feels  the  whip  or  motion  of  the  reins.  This  is  sorae- 
times  caused  by  colds,  fevers,  blows,  &c.,  which  cause 
the  ear  wax  to  collect  and  remain  in  the  drum  of  the  ear 
until  deafness  is  the  result. 

Cure, — Turn  a  teaspoonfull  of  the  extract  of  swamp 
ash  bark  into  each  ear,  two  mornings  in  succession. 
Then  for  a  few  days  following,  turn  in  a  few  drops  of 
either  skunk's  or  woodchuck's  oil.  One  week  is  generally 
sufficient  to  cure  the  worst  cases  of  deafness,  unless  it  is 
the  effect  of  old  age,  and  then  it  would  be  useless  to 
tamper  with  it. 

SCALDED    OR  GALLED    BREAST. 

Now  it  frequently  happens  in  the  spring  and  autumn 
of  the  year,  when  farmers  begin  their  farm  work,  that 
their  horses'  breasts  become  very  sore  and  badly  galled, 
as  well  as  canal  and  other  horses  used  for  draft.  The 
skin  being  more  tender  at  this  season  of  the  year  in  con- 
sequence of  the  horse  shedding  the  old  hair  and  the  sud- 
den growth  of  the  new.  As  a  preventive  for  this  diffi- 
culty, keep  your  harness  clean  and  soft.  Wash  all  the 
sweat  anil  dust  off  from  the  horse's  breast  every  noon 
and  evening  with  cold  water,  and  also  every  morning 
with  a  decoction  of  hemlock,  or  white  ash  bark,  not  very 
strong.  This  will  not  only  harden  the  breast,  but  it  will 
prevent  the  collar  from  chafing  and  rnaking  it  sore. 
Refrain  from  putting  on  any  kind  of  oil  or  grease  while 
using  the  horse,  for  this  will  catch  all  the  dust,  and  the 
grit  thereof  will  surely  make  a  sore. 

Cure. — Treat  as  you  would  any  other  sorej  or  observe 
entire  rest,  and  leave  to  nature.     When  you  continue  to 


152    .  avery's  own  farrier. 

use  the  horse  with  a  sore  breast,  apply  every  evening 
the  wormwood  herb  steeped  in  chamber  lye,  cleanup' 
well  in  the  morning  before  laying  on  the  harness.  If 
allowed  rest,  the  remedy  given  for  burns  is  veiy  quick 
and  effectual. 

TETANUS,    OR    LOCK    JAW. 

This  is  not  unfrequently  brought  on  by  some  very 
slight  cause,  as  cuts,  blows,  or  derangenjuit  of  the  nerves 
and  muscles.  It  commences  with  a  ditficuhy  in  masti- 
cation, and  finally  the  jaws  become  immoveable;  and 
unless  it  immediately  precedes  dissolution  (as  is  often  the 
case  with  other  diseases),  relief  caij  be  obtained  in  t.ie 
following  manner: 

Cure. — Wash  the  jaws  and  neck  well  with  a  strong 
decoct  ion 'of  tobacco  for  an  hour,  and  if  it  is  possible  to 
make  him  swaltow  by  turning  it  into  his  mouth  or  be- 
tween his  teeth,  give  him  near  a  gill  of  the  hot  drops. 
A  free  use  of  the  frog's  oil  on  the  jaws  and  about  the 
throat  afterwards,  willj^e  very  beneficial. 

POLL    EVIL. 

Is  caused  by  a  blow  or  bruise.  It  may  be  caused 
sometimes  by  the  horse  pulling  on  the  halter,  and  bruising 
the  top  of  the  head  in  that  way  which  causes  a  swelling 
there,  which  is  the  first  symptom  of  this  disease.  Or  it 
may  be  caused  by  the  horse  throwing  his  head  up  sud- 
denly in  low  stables,  &c.  \n  the  onset  it  should  be 
treated  as  any  other  swelling  to  disperse  it,  for  which 
the  clay  and  vinegar  poultice  may  be  found  useful  or 
hot  fomentations  of  vinegar  and  wormwood,  after  which 


avery's  own  farrier.  153 

it  may  be  washed  with  camphoretted  spirits,  or  any  of 
the  stimulating  liniments;  or  it  can  be  scattered  by  using 
the  yolks  of  hen's  eggs  and  sugar,  as  given  in  recipes; 
and  sometimes  it  is  only  necessary  to  shower  the  parts  a 
few  times  with  cold  water,  and  then  apply  the  liniment 
to  effect  a  cure.  But  if  allowed  to  run  on  until  it  breaks 
and  forms  into  pipes,  and  discharges  from  thence,  then  a 
different  mode  of  treatment  will  be  required.  Now,  here 
comes  another  long  kept  secret,  and  a  great  mystery  to 
some,  which  may  be  the  means  of  doing  some  good  in 
the  world  if  made  public.  The  poll  evil,  after  arriving 
at  this  stage  of  the  disease,  requires  precisely  the  same 
treatment  to  effect  a  cure,  that  the  cancer  does  in  the 
human  species.  The  following  remedies  have  saved 
thousands  from  a  premature  grave: 

Cure. — Instead  of  using  the  knife  or  hot  iron  (as  in 
olden  times),  by  which  many  a  valuable  horse  has  been 
lost,  apply  the  followiing  remedies,  which  are  three  in 
number;  the  first  is  the  mildest  and  sufficient  to  cure 
in  the  first  stages  of  this  disease.  It  is  what  the  Indians 
use  to  cure  all  red  spots  on  the  face,  or  other  parts, 
which,  if  let  alone,  often  terminate  in  cancer.  The  first 
is  simply  to  take  pure  tobacco  (a  good  Spanish  cigar 
for  instance)  and  reduce  it  to  ashes,  then  wet  it  up  in 
the  form  of  a  poultice  with  spittle  from  the  mouth  and 
apply  it  to  the  sore.  The  second  is  red  oak  bark,  re- 
duced to  ashes,  then  leached,  and  the  lye  boiled  down  to 
a  kind  of  salve,  and  applied  as  above.  Or  it  may  be 
obtained  by  boiling  a  quantity  of  the  bark  sufficient  to 
get  the  strength,  and  then  strain  and  boil  down.  The 
third  remedy  is  the  most  sure,  as  it  is  the  most  powerful; 


154  avery's  own  farrier. 

it  being  what  the  celebrated  cancer  doctors  of  the  age 
call  the  real  kill  devil,  pretending  it  only  grows  in 
some  obscure  place  on  the  Catskill  naountains,  &c.,  and 
is  comnuonly  known  by  the  name  of  swamp  ash.  Either 
the  black  or  red  ash  (fraximus  pubescens)  will  answer. 
The  bark  only  is  to  be  used  for  this  purpose,  and  that 
reduced  to  ashes  and  leached,  and  the  lye  boiled  down 
to  a  salve,  &c.,  which  should  be  applied  once  or  twice 
a  day  until  these  pipes  or  roots  are  eaten  entirely  out. 
Clean  off  the  excrescence  every  time  before  applying  any 
more  salve,  with  castile  soap  and  water,  using  as  much 
perfumery  or  as  little  as  you  choose  on  the  surrounding 
parts.  When  this  is  thoroughly  done,  use  the  following 
salve  until  it  is  healed  up  smooth:  Take  equal  parts  of 
yellow  pine  turpentine  and  honey,  with  a  quantity  equal 
to  both  the  former  of  a  decoction  of  the  white  oak  bark, 
and  simmer  these  over  a  slow  fire  down  to  a  salve. 

Fistula  on  the  Withers,  differs  bwt  very  little  in  its  na- 
ture from  that  of  poll  evil,  except  in  its  lr;cation.  It 
may  be  caused  by  being  bruised  with  the  saddle  or  collar; 
or,  like  sweeny,  it  may  be  caused  by  checking  the  draft 
horse  too  high  (or  too  long  at  a  time),  which  causes  more 
friction  at  the  point  of  the  shoulder  blades,  and  has  a 
tendency  to  tire  and  weaken  the  muscles  of  the  neck, 
and,  by  taking  cold,  it  may  settle  at  this  point  and  pro- 
duce inflammation  and  swelling.  And  the  horse  may  be 
made  to  bruisre  the  withers  by  rubbing  himself  or  rolling, 
in  consequence  of  the  irritation  produced  on  these  parts 
by  the  former. 

Cure. — Observe  entire  rest,  and  treat  precisely  as  you 
would  poll  evil,  and  a  cure  will  be  effected  in  a  few  days* 


avery's  own  farrier.  155 

treatment  of  cords  and  muscles. 

I  have  already  given  directions  for  relaxing  the  mus- 
cles, in  speaking  of  other  diseases,  and  now  I  will  tell 
you  how  to  strengthen  them  after  they  have  become 
weakened  by  blows,  strains,  rheumatism,  or  other  causes, 
&c.;  this  can  be  done  in  an  astonishingly  short  time  by 
the  use  of  the  following  —  first  rub  it  on  the  parts  af- 
fected, and  then  bathe  it  in  with  a  hot  brick  or  shovel: 
Take  equal  parts  of  sweet  apple  tree  and  white  oak 
bark;  boil  them  in  water  sufficient  to  get  the  strength; 
then  strain  and  boil  down  to  thitk  syrup;  when  cool,  add 
a  very  little  alcohol,  and  bottle  for  use.  "When  you  have 
occasion  to  use  any  of  it  turn  out  what  you  want  to  use 
at  once,  and  add  to  that  a  very  little  spii  its  of  turpentine; 
mix  thoroughly,  and  use  as  above  stated.  Where  the 
parts  are  much  swollen  and  inflamed,  previous  to  using 
the  above,  it  may  be  well  to  bathe  the  parts  with  cold 
water  until  the  inflammation  is  subdued.  One  applica- 
tion of  the  above  is  frequently  sufficient  to  relieve  the 
animal  from  pain  and  lameness  in  very  aggravated  cases. 
This  remedy  is  very  useful  in  many  complaints,  as  lame- 
ness in  the  stifle  joint,  weakness  across  the  loins,  tipple 
in  the  back,  and  all  soreness  or  stifl^ness  in  or  about  the 
shoulders,  &c.  The  affinity  of  spirits  of  turpentine  for 
water  is  so  great  that  it  is  more  readily  taken  up  by  the 
absorbents  and  carried  into  the  fluids  than  anything  else 
that  can  be  used  for  this  purpose;  therefore,  when  mixed 
with  other  ingredients,  they  are  taken  along  with  it 
through  the  pores  of  the  skin  and  carried  deeper  and 
nearer  the  seat  of  pain;  hence  comes  the  benefit  of  this 
article  when  used  as  above. 


156  avkry's  own  fakrter. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SURGERY, 

"  Is  curing  by  manual  operations,  with  or  without 
medicine."  The  setting  and  replacing  broken  bones  is 
seldom  called  into  requisition  in  horse  surgery,  or  veter- 
inary practice,  and  it  would  be  a  very  difficult  task  for 
rae  to  lay  down  rules  on  this  subject  that  would  be  ap- 
plicable in  all  cases.  Perhaps  there  would  never  any 
two  cases  happen  just  alike,  consequently  each  would 
need  different  fixtures  and  the  mode  of  treatment  would 
vary  so  much  that  it  would  be  useless  to  the  reader  for 
me  to  make  the  attempt,  and  especially  if  one  had  a 
practical  knowledge  of  the  subject  under  consideration, 
or  if  he  had  the  mechanical  ingenuity  that  is  so  neces- 
sary for  one  to  have  before  he  should  venture  to  perform 
operations  of  this  kind,  it  would  be  wholly  unnecessary  for 
me  to  say  more  to  him.  Though  I  have  performed  many 
operations  that  might  with  propriety  be  brought  under 
this  head,  I  propose  to  speak  of  only  a  few. 

The  Breach. — Accidents  of  this  kind  often  happen 
with  colts  where  they  are  allowed  to  run  in  company 
with  horns,  stakes,  knots,  and  cruel  masters.  It  renders 
them  almost  valueless  unless  they  are  cured,  which  is  not 
a  very  difficult  task  to  perform,  for  I  have  cured  many 
without  ever  witnessing  a  single  failure.  A  breach,  or 
burst,  is  where  the  wall  and  membrane  of  the  abdomen 
gets  broken  through  by  some  kick,  blow,  or  other  means, 
lacerating  or  rupturing  these  parts  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  allow  the  guts  to  protrude  through,  and   lay  next  to 


avery's  own  farrier.  .  157 

the  skin,  making  a  tumor  on  the  outside  in  proportion  to 
the  size  of  the  wound  within.  The  skin  being  tougher 
and  more  stretchy,  seldom  gets  broken  in  this  way. 
When  you  wish  to  remedy  this  difficulty,  take  the  animal 
down  and  have  him  well  secured  with  ropes,  or  sufficient 
help  for  this  purpose.  Lay  him  on  the  unaffected  side, 
and  work  the  guts  back  into  the  body  with  your  finger, 
ascertaining  at  the  same  time  the  extent  of  the  wound 
in  the  wall  of  the  belly.  Then  with  a  sharp  knife  cut 
the  skin  to  correspond  with  the  breach,  or  a  little  longer 
than  it  is  on  the  inside,  being  careful  to  not  cut  the  guts 
if  they  should  have  worked  out  again,  and  if  so,  put 
them  back  in  the  body,  keeping  them  as  clean  as  possi- 
ble. Then  with  a  crooked  needle  and  a  strong  waxed 
linen  or  silk  cord  (not  too  large  for  the  needle),  sew  it 
up  by  stitching  through  the  skin  and  inside  both  together. 
After  you  have  taken  one  stitch  on  the  inside  to  assist 
you  in  keeping  the  guts  back,  tie  the  thread  every  time 
you  take  a  stitch.  Cut  the  skin  if  the  wound  will  admit 
of  it,  so  as  to  have  the  incision  up  and  down  when  the 
animal  is  on  his  feet;  it  will  then  have  a  better  chance 
to  discharge  the  matter,  &c.,  and  the  stitches  will  not  be 
so  likely  to  tear  out.  When  you  let  the  animal  up, 
place  a  strong  bandage  around  the  body,  drawing  it  as 
tight  as  you  can  and  have  him  breathe  easy.  Keep  this 
on  some  ten  days,  after  which  there  will  be  no  danger  of 
the  stitches  tearing  out,  for  by  this  time  it  will  be  suffi- 
ciently healed  or  knit  to  hold  without  their  aid.  If  the 
injury  is  a  recent  one,  the  edges  on  being  brought  to- 
gether will  readily  unite,  but  in  old  wounds  of  this  kind, 

14 


158  .  avery's  own  farrier. 

or  natural  breaches  at  the  navel,  the  edges  of  the  wound 
will  be  healed  over  as  smooth  as  your  finger,  and  in  that 
case  you  roust  pare  the  margins  off  smooth  so  that  it  will 
be  raw  and  bleed  quite  round  the  hole,  and  then  it  will 
readily  unite  and  heal  together.  The  operator  should 
furnish  himself  with  a  very  keen   edged  knife   for  this 

purpose. 

The  animal  should  be  put  up  and  fed  on  green  food 
and  bran,  or  a\few  oats  a  short  time  previous  to  this 
operation  as  well  as  afterwards  until  well,  not  allowing 
him  to  fill  himself  too  full  with  any  kind  of  food  during 
the  time. 

Never  permit  a  horse  to  carry  a  beetle  knot  on  his 
side  or  belly;  it  is  such  an  eye  sore  to  his  owner  and 
every  one  that  sees  it.  Besides  this,  the  guts  are  very 
liable  to  get  knotted  and  twisted  up  where  they  pro- 
trude, during  the  violent  motion  he  is  accustomed  to, 
often  causing  colic,  spasms  and  even  death. 

Castration. — There  are  various  opinions  as  to  the  best 
time  of  year  and  age  to  perform  this  operation  on  the 
colt,  as  well  as  on  the  different  modes  of  doing  it,  &c. 
When  convenient,  I  would  perform  it  when  the  so  called 
sign  is  right,  and  that  is  when  it  is  in  the  legs  and 
going  down.  The  most  suitable  time  of  year  to  perform 
this  operation  (in  my  opinion)  is  in  the  spring  of  the 
year,  and  when  the  colt  is  a  year  old.  Or  in  the  fall 
of  the  year  after,  unless  it  be  while  quite  young  and 
runs  with  the  dam.  If  allowed  to  run  without  until  after 
he  is  two  years  old,  he  becomes  restless;  when  the  sexual 
fire  begins  to  burn  with  such  ardor  that  he  is  continually 


avery's  own  farrier.  !59 

chasing  and  running  after  others  whereby  a  year's  growth 
is  lost  at  least.  And  if  he  should  happen  to  die  in  con- 
sequence of  this  operation,  the  older  he  is  the  greater 
the  loss  would  be.  Besides  this,  his  serving  mares  at 
this  age,  has  a  tendency  to  inapair  his  strength,  as  well 
as  to  check  his  growth,  aside  from  the  liability  of  his 
receiving  other  injuries.  Castration  at  a  more  advanced 
age  often  proves  prejudicial  to  the  temper,  &c.  Al- 
though I  like  to  see  the  entire  horse,  there  is  no  question 
but  that  early  castration  make  larger  and  better  propor- 
tioned animals,  which  are  better  in  all  respects  for  or- 
dinary business,  aside  from  the  trouble  it  costs  to  take 
care  of  them. 

Among  the  different  modes  of  performing  this  opera- 
tion, the  one  of  turning  as  it  is  called,  or  twisting  the 
cords,  so  as  to  stop  the  circulation  to  the  testicle,  leaving 
it  to  rot  off,  I  abhor  as  being  cruel  and  barbarous;  be- 
sides there  is  risk  attending  it  of  sacrificing  the  animal  at 
whatever  age.  The  one  of  placing  sticks  on  the  cord 
does  far  better  than  the  former,  which  were  covered  with 
a  composition  made  of  two  parts  of  red  precipitate,  and 
one  part  of  corrosive  sublimate  made  into  paste.  This 
sears  the  cord  and  blood  vessels,  and  prevents  bleeding, 
sets  the  wound  discharging,  and  hastens  the  healing 
process,  which  gained  for  it  considerable  favor  on  its 
first  introduction.  But  this,  too,  has  its  objections,  viz: 
Firstly,  these  sticks  have  to  remain  on  the  cord  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-four  hours,  which  is  an  unnecessary 
torture  to  the  horse,  and  strains  the  cords  so  that  it 
frequently  injures  his  shape  and  actioi^for  a  long  time. 


160  avery's  own  farrier. 

Secondly,  you  must  place  the  sticks  above  the  epididy- 
mus  (or  courage  balls  as  they  are  called  by  some  horse- 
men), the  loss  of  which  are  injurious  to  his  mettle;  or 
the  cords  by  being  strained  in  this  manner  so  long,  will 
hang  down,  and  the  flesh  heal  to  them  so  that  it  leaves 
a  blemish,  and  be  a  great  while  in  getting  well,  or  you 
must  cut  them  off  a  second  time,  which  is  attended  with 
more  trouble  and  risk.  Thirdly,  and  lastly,  there  is  a 
better  way;  that  is  to  put  on  the  clamps  where  you 
choose,  pare  the  cords  off  not  too  close,  and  sear  them 
well  with  a  hot  iron  to  prevent  their  bleeding  too  much; 
then  rub  some  of  the  liniment,  for  which  a  formula  will 
be  given  below,  on  the  ends  of  the  cords  and  surrounding 
parts;  then  when  you  let  the  horse  up,  the  cords  are  up 
where  they  should  be,  and  this  liniment  will  set  it  run- 
ning, and  cause  it  to  heal  as  fast  as  can  be  desirable,  and 
it  will  heal  up  smooth  without  leaving  any  blemish. 
The  incisions  to  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  taking  out 
the  testicle,  should  always  be  made  in  a  parallel  line 
with  the  seam  on  the  outside  that  separates  them,  not 
allowing  the  knife  to  come  very  near  to  it;  and  there  is 
but  little  risk  in  performing  this  operation.  To  make 
the  liniment,  take  equal  parts  of  henbane  plant  and 
balm  of  Gilead  buds,  boil  these  in  water  suflSciently  to 
obtain  the  strength  of  them,  then  strain  and  add  another 
part  of  hog's  lard  and  bayberry,  or  candleberry  tallow; 
simmer  these  down  together  to  a  thickish  liniment. 
When  you  use  it,  warm  and  add  a  very  little  oil  of  fire 
weed,  with  or  without  cutting  it  with  alcohol;  this  will 
prevent  bleeding. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  161 

docking,  pricking,  and  nicking. 

A  good  tail  adds  very  much  to  the  beauty  and  value 
of  a  horse,  whether  it  is  natural  -or  artificial.  Dockino; 
is  a  very  simple  and  easy  operation  to  perform;  it  con- 
sists merely  in  cutting  the  tail  off  any  desirable  length, 
which  can  be  done  in  the  following  manner;  First  part 
the  hair  wherever  you  wish  to  cut  off  the  tail,  saving  all 
the  hair  above  you  can,  by  tying  it  over  on  the  tail. 
Then  back  the  horse  up  to  some  convenient  place  where 
the  tail  will  lay  on  a  plank  nearly  level,  and  sever  it  at 
one  blow  with  some  sharp  edged  tool  and  mallet,  in  a 
transverse  direction  from  the  horse,  leaving  the  bone  a 
little  the  longest  on  the  under  side.  Then  bring  the  hair 
down  and  tie  close  below  the  end  of  the  bone  without 
searing.  By  occasionally  breaking  the  tail  over  on  the 
back,  or  pulleying  a  short  time  while  it  is  healing,  you 
can  obtain  a  good  tail  by  only  docking  the  horse.  Cut- 
ting the  tail  off  in  the  above  manner  is  better  than  to 
turn  it  over  on  the  back  and  unjoint  it,  for  then  the  cords 
are  strained  most  on  the  under  side  and  cut  off,  which 
will  have  a  tendency  to  pull  the  tail  down  instead  of  up. 

Pricking. — Although  some  may  think  best  to  let  well 
enough  alone  (as  they  say),  for  they  have  got  the  idea 
some  way  that  it  weakens  the  horse  in  the  back  to  set 
up  his  tail,  still  they  will  contend  that  docking  is  an  ad- 
vantage to  the  horse  because  it  makes  him  fill  up  better 
in  the  hind  quarters,  and  makes  him  tougher. 

Now  this  is  owing  in  part  to  a  want  of  knowledge  of 
the  anatomy  of  the  horse,  for  all  the  cords  and  tendons 


162  avery's  own  farrier. 

that  are  separated  in  pricking  are  divided  in  docking. 
And  the  main  support  of  the  tail  and  back  is  on  the  up- 
per side  of  the  tail,  and  consists  of  cords  and  muscles 
which  are  more  numerous  and  lay  closer  to  the  bone  than 
those  on  the  under  side,"  which  are  only  two  of  any  im- 
portance, and  the  only  use  of  these  appear  to  be  to  pull 
the  tail  down.  These  two  cords  are  situated,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  bone  of  the  tail,  and  near  the  edge  of  the 
hair.  There  are  three  blood  vessels  also  on  the  under 
side  of  the  tail,  the  two  largest  of  these  being  placed  on 
the  outside,  one  directly  under  each  of  the  cords,  and  the 
smaller  one  in  the  centre  or  directly  below  the  bone.  In 
the  ancient  method  of  pricking,  these  blood  vessels  were 
all  severed,  letting  the  horse  bleed  very  profusely,  which 
weakened  him  more  or  less,  for  the  time  being  any  how, 
and  should  be  avoided  as  it  is  in  the  more  modern  man- 
ner of  performing  this  operation.  Pricking  may  be  ac- 
complished (after  the  horse  is  secured  sufficiently  for 
safety),  by  merely  dividing  these  two  cords  or  tendons 
on  each  side  of  the  tail,  nearly  under  the  second  joint 
from  the  body.  One  place  is  sufficient,  though  if  you 
should  prefer  it,  cut  off  the  cords  again  about  two  inches 
from  the  first  incision,  with  a  small  sharp-pointed  knife, 
with  the  edge  running  only  about  one  inch  from  the 
point  and  made  concave  the  rest  of  the  way,  or  well 
rounded  off  so  that  it  will  not  cut;  then  hold  the  tail  up 
with  one  hand,  and  run  the  knife  in  with  the  other,  near 
the  edge  of  the  hair,  being  careful  to  cut  the  cord  quite 
off  and  not  cut  the  large  blood  vessel  which  lies  imme- 
diately beneath,  being  sure  not  to  let  the  knife  touch  the 


Avery's  own  farrier.  163 

bone.  You  can  easily  tell  when  the  cord  is  cut  off  by 
holding  your  thumb  on  the  under  side  during  the  opera- 
tion, and  the  giving  away  of  the  tail.  A  horse  that  is 
intended  to  be  pricked  should  not  be  docked  until  you 
have  done  pulleying  him,  for  the  hair  you  pulley  by  is  apt 
to  come  out  unless  you  prevent  the  fever  created  by  the 
wounds  and  pulleying.  Continue  the  pulleying  until  the 
tail  is  well,  observing  time  for  rest,  and  then  dock  the 
desired  length.  When  you  begin  to  pulley,  rub  the 
wounds  with  the  liniment  given  for  castration,  and  after 
with  copperas  water;  wash  the  tail  twice  a  week  with 
alum  water;  let  his  diet  be  light  and  of  easy  digestion; 
give  him  a  good  bed,  sufficient  rubbing,  and  time  to  rest 
himself  while  in  the  pulleys. 

There  is  more  in  taking  care  of  the  horse's  tail  and 
pulleying,  in  getting  a  good  tail,  than  there  is  in  perform- 
ing the  operation  of  merely  cutting  the  cords  off;  and 
when  this  is  well  attended  to,  he  will  thrive  in  a  remarka- 
ble degree  and  grow  fat,  together  with  a  good  tail,  while 
you  have  attained  the  highest  degree  of  elegance  that 
art  can  give  in  this  respect. 

JYicking  consists  in  cutting  the  cords  off  in  several 
places,  about  two  inches  apart,  and  hooking  the  ends  up 
with  a  crooked  needle,  so  as  to  lay  hold  of  them  with  a 
pair  of  pinchers,  and  then  skin  the  cord  out. 

For  myself,  I  prefer  pricking  to  nicking,  for  various 
reasons,  viz:  You  nick  a  horse  and  fail  to  get  a  good 
tail,  and  he  is  ruined  forever;  but  on  the  other  hand  if 
you  should  happen  to  have  bad  luck  in  pricking,  you 
have  a  chance  to  try  your  luck  again,  and  when  you  get 


164  avery's  own  farrier. 

a  good  tail  in  this  way,  the  horse  looks  as  well,  if  not 
better  than  by  nicking  him.  And  when  a  horse  is  badly 
nicked  he  loses  the  simplicity  and  beauty  of  nature,  and 
you  can  never  give  him  the  elegance  of  art.  It  is  at- 
tended with  greater  risk,  and  certainly  more  cruelty,  and 
I  hope  it  will  be  wholly  dispensed  with  hereafter. 


avery's  own  parkier.  167 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

ON    BREEDING. 
"  Come  let  us  be  merry  and  wise." 

Breeding  is  a  very  important  branch  of  industry  to 
the  commonwealthj  as  well  as  a  profitable  business  to 
the  farmer;  although  it  seems  to  have  been  much  ne- 
glected in  some  districts,  and  especially  where  the  cow 
or  dairy  has  taken  the  ascendency  over  almost  every- 
thing else.  But  even  our  dairy-men  now,  and  the  farm- 
ers generally,  begin  to  realize  that  the  horse  has  been 
sunk  too  low  in  the  estimation  of  society,  and  the  raising 
of  them  too  much  neglected  for  their  owm  interest.  To 
say  nothing  about  improving  the  different  breeds,  we 
have  some  that  appear  to  be  coming  to  a  right  under- 
standing of  these  things,  and  more  especially  when  they 
happen  to  want  a  pair  to  do  their  drudgery,  and  have  to 
count  out  from  three  to  five  hundred  rocks  for  them,  and 
get  nothing  but  drones  at  that.  Others  hold  on  to  their 
old  teams  until  they  are  worn  out  all  but  the  stubshot, 
to  give  them  time  to  raise  young  ones  to  take  their 
places,  and  not  unfrequently  spoil  them  with  hard  work 
before  they  are  old  enough  to  be  harnessed  at  all.  Now, 
if  they  would  turn  their  attention  to  raising  and  im- 
proving the  present  stock  a  little  more,  they  would  soon 
find  it  would  favor  their  best  interest  to  do  so;  and  they 
w^ould  soon  have  the  country  filled  with  a  breed  of  horses 
that  we  could  justly  feel  proud  of  It  is  our  duty  to  do 
all  we  can  towards  giving  the  youth  of  our  country  a 


168  AVERY 'S    OWN    FARRIER. 

liberal  education,  while  we  are  receiving  for  that  pur- 
pose so  much  material  aid  from  the  public  treasury,  in 
order  that  they  may  grow  up  to  be  good  and  useful  citi- 
zens. Then  why  not  profit  by  the  encouragement  given 
us  by  our  legislatures,  and  the  organization  of  our 
national  fairs,  &c.,  for  the  improvement  of  the  breed  of 
horses  we  have.  Good  men  need  good  horses;  the  first 
are  an  ornament  to  society,  the  last  add  wealth  to  the 
world,  while  there  is  pleasure  in  seeing  both.  The 
middle  and  western  states  have  some  fine  horses — some 
excellent  ones;  and  Vermont,  with  her  sister  states,  is 
justly  entitled  to  great  credit  for  her  celebrated  stock  of 
Morgans  and  Black  Hawks,  as  well  as  the  southern 
states  for  their  fine  English  breeds  and  the  turf  horse.  I 
know  there  has  been  a  great  effort  made  by  some  to 
discourage  the  improvement  of  this  noble  animal;  but  it 
has  generally  arisen  from  some  selfish  motive.  Some 
have  labored  hard  with  the  pen  (but  happily  in  vain)  to 
see  the  mule  take  the  place  of  the  work  horse;  and 
others  equally  so  with  the  tongue  (for  there  is  nothing 
that  so  empties  the  heart  as  this  member,  though  lip  and 
heart  are  often  at  war  with  each  other),  because  perhaps 
they  had  some  worthless  animal  of  their  own  they  hoped 
to  raise  the  credit  of,  by  destroying  the  reputation  of  a 
better  one.  The  first  of  these  might  as  well  try  to  advo- 
cate the  cause  of  the  negro  for  this  purpose,  as  that  of 
the  mule.  For  my  part  I  prefer  the  horse  to  either,  and 
look  forward  to  a  better  time  coming,  when  the  farmer 
will  look  to  his  own  interest  in  this  matter,  if  not  to  that 
of  the  commonwealth. 

Great  care  and  sound  judgment  should  be  exercised  in 


avery's  own  farrier.  169 

choosing  animals  to  breed  from;  and  as  much  or  more 
depends  on  the  dam  for  this  purpose  as  on  the  sire.  She 
should  be  of  good  size,  and  of  strong  constitution;  good 
feet,  fine  limbs,  but  rather  flat  than  otherwise,  small 
head  and  ear,  eye  prominent,  of  sound  body,  good  dis- 
position, and,  withall,  of  good  action.  As  to  age,  it 
matters  not  so  much;  old  ones  are  thought  to  bring  as 
good  colts  as  younger  ones.  In  choosing  a  horse,  you 
should  select  one  that  is  not  disproportionally  large,  or 
too  small  for  the  mare,  for  by  so  doing  you  lose  the  ex- 
cellence and  the  good  qualities  of  both.  He  should  be 
in  possession  of  his  full  strength  and  power  of  bone  and 
muscle,  and  not  allowed  to  serve  too  many  mares;  for 
this  is  alike  prejudicial  to  the  horse  and  the  strength  of 
his  progeny.  He  should  be  young  rather  that  otherwise; 
and  if  he  has  most  of  the  requisites  laid  down  for  the 
mare,  all  the  better,  with  a  pretty  crooked  rib,  short 
on  the  back,  deep  up  and  down  through  the  chest,  broad 
breast,  with  a  good  neck  and  tail,  and  of  good  symmetry, 
throughout,  he  fills  the  measure  of  a  good  horse — that 
is,  the  distances  should  be  equal  from  the  point  of  the 
shoulder  or  breast  bone,  to  the  point  of  the  withers,  from 
the  withers  to  the  point  of  the  hips,  and  from  thence  to 
the  point  of  the  haunch  or  buttock.  This  gives  a  well 
proportioned  shoulder,  not  so  heavy  as  to  retard  the 
action.  A  short  back  which  lil ways  accompanies  a  good 
loin,  denotes  strength.  A  good  haunch  (according  to 
horseology)  enables  them  to  open  and  shut  with  the 
shoulders,  being  a  good  requisite  for  the  turf  With 
these  requisites  you  can  not  fail  to  be  successful  in 
breeding,  for  like  produces  like.     But  it  is  hardly  to  be 

15 


170  AVERY  S   OWN  FARRIER. 

hoped  that  you  will  be  able  to  find  them  all  combined; 
and  when  you  can  not,  get  as  many  of  them  as  possible. 
During  gestation,   the  mare  should   have   good  keep; 
she  should  not  be  kept  too  fat  nor  too  lean,  with  sufficient 
exercise  by  letting   her  run   in   a  yard  with  shelter  at- 
tached; or  if  kept  up  to  work,  which  she  will  be  capable 
of  doing  a   great  deal  without   injury,  providing  she  is 
carefully  managed  by  being  fed  and  worked  regularly, 
but  should  not  on  any  account  be  worked  so  as  to  tire  or 
fatigue   her,  she  should  by  no  means  be  compelled  to 
wallow  and  flounce  in  the  deep  snows  of  the  lumbering 
districts,  as  is  too  often  the  case  in  those  regions.     As 
the  time  of  parturition  draws  near,  she  should  have  her 
shoes  taken  off  and  be  allowed  a  large  stable  without 
being  tied,  and  have  plenty  of  roots  to  eat  with  her  hay, 
or    be  turned  into  good   pasture   which    is   preferable. 
Previous  to  this,  and  during  gestation,  if  she  is  worked, 
feed  a  quart  of  wheat  a  w^cek,  W'hich  will  prevent  abor- 
tion.    But  avoid  feeding  rye,  buckw^heat,  or  giving  slip- 
pery elm   tea,  and  do   not  allow  them    to  see   nor  smell 
fresh  meat  or  blood   at   all,  for  the  same  reason.     And 
another  thing  should  be  remembered  as  the  time  of  par- 
turition draws  nigh,  which  is,  it  is  an  instinct  of  this 
species  of  animals  to  get  near  or  into  brooks  or  ponds  of 
water  at  this   time,  which   is   more  particularly  so  with 
young  mares,  whereby  marty  a  fine  colt  has  been  drowned 
before  the  ow^ner  had  seen  it.     Some  people  would  think 
it  strange!  a  great  pity!  and  just   their  luck  (as  they 
would  have  it),  whereas,  if  they  had   known  the   nature 
of  these  animals  a  little  better,  they  could  have  prevented 
this  misfortune.     Therefore   it  is  well   to  avoid  turning 


avery's  own  farrier,  171 

thera  into  pastures  where  either  the  mare  or  colt  can  get 
into  the  water.  The  mare  should  be  carefully  watched 
at  this  time  for  fear  of  her  wanting  assistance,  as  is 
sometimes  the  case;  and  after  a  reasonable  time  and 
effort  on  her  part,  if  she  does  not  foal,  you  should  ex- 
amine and  ascertain  whether  the  colt  is  in  a  natural 
position  to  come  forth  or  not.  The  proper  position  is 
the  fore  feet  and  nose  foremost,  and  if  not,  place  it  in 
that  position,  and  when  her  throes  come  on,  assist  her  by 
gently  pulling  on  the  colt,  but  at  no  other  time.  In 
protracted  or  difficult  parturition,  and  where  the  labor 
pains  appear  to  be  subsiding,  in  order  to  stimulate  the 
uterus  to  renewed  and  increased  ^action,  the  ergot,  or 
spurred  rye,  may  be  given  her  in  doses  of  a  teaspoonfull 
of  the  powder  once  an  hour  until  it  produces  the  desired 
effect.  But  no  other  force  should  be  used  than  that 
stated  above,  unless  it  is  in  extreme  cases.  This  powder 
should  be  given  her  in  a  warm  and  strong  tea,  made  by 
steeping  the  leaves  of  the  common  red  raspberry  in 
water.  There  is  still  another  reason  for  watching  the 
mare  at  the  time  of  parturition,  which,  perhaps,  it  will 
not  be  amiss  to  state.  The  colt  is  often  foaled  with  the 
blanket  (as  it  is  commonly  called)  whole,  or  as  I  have 
sometimes  seen  it  completely  covering  its  head,  and  un- 
less it  is  immediately  removed  either  by  the  mare  or  the 
struggles  of  the  colt  (and  sometimes  he  has  not  the 
strength  to  do  it),  he  very  soon  strangles  and  dies  unless 
saved  by  some  one  in  attendance. 

Colts,  the  first  week  of  their  existence,  need  watching 
and  care,  as  they  are  sometimes  foaled  before  parturition  is 
matured,  in  which  case  the  front  teeth  often  need  to  be  cut 


172  avery's  own  farrier. 

with  a  sharp  knife  before  they  can  suck  well,  and  then  they 
are  apt  to  be  costive  so  that  nothing  passes  the  bowels, 
and  this  is  often  accompanied  with  a  difficulty  of  making 
water    also,  and,  unless    relieved,  they  die    from    these 
causes  alone.     Now  when   this  happens  to   be  the  case, 
give  them  a  few  spoonsfull  of  sweet  milk  well  sweetened 
with  molasses,  and  inject  some  of  the  same  after  adding 
a  very  little  of  the  pulverized  root  of  rhubarb.     This  is 
all  that  will  be  necessary  to  remove  the  difficulty.    Colts 
at  this  age  are  sometimes  troubled  with  a  weakness  of 
the  fore  legs,  so  that  they  knuckle  over  and  can  scarcely 
stand  or  go — that  is,  the  muscles  of  the  back  part  of  the 
fore  legs   are   so   contracted,  and   those  of  the  fore  part 
becoming  weak  and  rdaxed,  that  it  gives  them  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  broken  knees  or  fetlocks.     Now  sup- 
posing you  had  a  board  that  was  badly  warped,  and  you 
wished  to  straighten  it,  you  would  wet  the  hollowing 
side   in  order  to  swell   it,  and  heat   the  opposite  side  in 
order  to  shrink  it,  and  in  this  way  you  would  succeed  in 
bringing  it  straight  again.    Thus  it  is  with  these  warped 
legs;  bathe  the  heavy  muscles  of  the   back  and   upper 
part  of  the   arm   with   warm  water,   and  wash  the  fore 
part  of  the  leg  and  joints  with  a  decoction  of  the  white 
oak  and  sweet  apple  tree  bark;  this  is  strengthening  and 
a  powerful  astringent,  and  to  the  colt  should  be  applied 
but  sparingly.     In  colts,  this  weakness  of  the  joints  is 
sometimes  caused   by  a   relaxed   state  of  the  bowels  or 
dysentery,  which  causes  a  general  weakness.     When  it 
proceeds  from  this  cause,   give   the   colt  the  following 
dose,  viz:  Take  a  teaspoonfull  each  of  tincture  of  lauda- 
num,  camphoretted  spirits,  essence  of  peppermint,  and 


Avery's  own  farrier.  173 

black  pepper;  add  half  a  pint  of  warm  water  and  feed 
it  to  him  with  a  large  spoon. 

Some  may  have  a  curiosity  to  know  before  the  colt  is 
foaled  whether  it  is  to  be  a  horse  or  mare  colt;  if  so, 
watch  the  mare  at  the  time  she  is  making  bag,  and  if  the 
right  side  fills  first  and  keeps  the  largest,  you  may  ex- 
pect a  horse  colt,  and  if  the  left  side  springs  first,  &c., 
you  can  expect  a  mare  colt.  As  far  as  my  experience 
goes  this  has  been  almost  invariably  the  case,  though 
there  are  undoubtedly  exceptions  to  this  rule. 

It  may  be  beneficial  to  some  one  to  know  how  to  de- 
termine the  color  and  height  a  colt  will  attain  when  full 
grown.     Correct  conclusions    may  be  arrived   at  in  this 
respect  in  the  following  manner:    The  color  in  after  life 
will  be  the  same  as  it  is  (or  nearly  so)  on  the  colt  around 
the  eyes  and  hairs  on  the  nose,  anywhere  from  four  days 
to  four  months  old.     There  is  a  rule  to  go  by  that  a  man 
may  know,  within  a  very  trifling  variation,  the  height  a 
colt  will  attain  when  full    grown,   by  which  he  can  tell 
something  about  what   sort  of  a  horse  with  proper  care 
he  is  t')  expect.     When  the  colt  arrives   at  the  age  of 
four  months,  or  as  soon  as  it  is  perfectly  straightened  in 
its  limbs,  measure  from  the  edge  of  the  hair  on  its  hoof 
to  the  middle  of  the  knee  joint,  and  for  every  inch   that 
it  measures  here  it  will  grow  to  the  height  of  a  hand  of 
four  inches  when  its  growth  is  matured.     Thus,  if  the 
distance    be  found  here   sixteen   inches,    it  will  make  a 
horse  sixteen  hands  high,  or  vary  according  to  the  pro- 
portional distance  found  at  this  place.     This  rule  holds 
good  for  all  the  small  class  of  horses,  and  equally  so  with 


174  avery's  own  farrier. 

others,  only  with  a  very  large  one  you  must  add  the 
depth  of  his  hoof,  or  about  three  inches  in  order  to  make 
his  full  height. 

The  foal  should  be  allowed   to  run  with  its  dam  until 
it  arrives   at  the  age  of  four  or  five  months   before  it  is 
weaned;  this  should  be  effected  without  its  worrying  or 
pining  after  her  any  more   than   can  possibly  be  helped. 
A  very  good  way  is  to  tie  them   in  the  stable  alongside 
of  each  other    for  a  few  days;  this   will    prevent    their 
worrying  after  each  other.     At  this  time,  if  there  should 
be  any  difficulty   apprehended    in   drying  up  the  mare's 
milk,  all  you  have   to  do  lo  obviate    is  to  cover  her  bag 
with  sale  molasses,  well  rubbed  in  with  the  hand,  and  it 
will  not  fill  afterwards.     This  is  no  less  simple  than  sure 
to  have  the   desired  effect.     When  the   colt  is  put  up  to 
wean,  it  should  have  the  best  of  hay  or  rowen,  and  suf- 
ficient bran  and  oats  to  keep   it  in  a  thriving  condition; 
and  when  thoroughly  weaned  it  should  be  allowed  a  dry 
yard  and  open  shed  to  run   in,  and  also  have  plenty  of 
good,   nourishing    food  to  eat,   for   the    better  they  are 
kept  while  young,  the  sooner  they  get  their   growth, 
and  the  better  animals  they  make  afterwards,  and  can  be 
kept  at^  less  cost.     Their  limbs  also  will  be  firmer  and 
better   knit,    providing    they    have   suflScient    exercise. 
The  idea    that  stinting    colts  while    young  would  make 
tougher    and    hardier    horses  of   them,    has  arisen  from 
people  feeding  them   high   and  keeping  them  too  much 
confined,  thinking  that  by  so  doing  they  would  beat  their 
neighbor,  or  get  a  high  price  for  them  at  an  early  age. 
But  exercise  is  as  necessary  to  give  strength  and  elasti- 


avery's  own  farrier.  175 

city  lo  the  limbs,  as  food  is  to  give  vitality  and  vigor  to 
the  body.  I  am  ^villing  to  admit  that,  being  fed  high 
and  kept  in  this  confined  way,  they  can  not  endure  much 
hardship  at  first,  nor  until  they  have  been  exercised 
moderately,  or  by  degrees,  sufficiently  to  have  acquired 
strength  of  body  and  limb  to  be  able  to  perform  what 
may  be  required  of  them  without  injury;  for  when  they 
have  been  put  to  hard  labor  on  the  start,  as  the  case 
sometimes  is  in  consequence  of  changing  owners,  the 
purchaser,  not  knowing  their  situation,  expects  a  great 
deal  of  service  from  them,  and  is  often  wofully  disap- 
pointed when  he  finds  his  horse  ringboned,  spavined,  or 
dies  with  lung  fever  or  dropsy  of  the  heart.  Now  the 
reason  of  all  this  is  for  want  of  sufficient  exercise  while 
being  fed  in  this  way,  and  not  in  the  feeding  alone. 
The  horse  requires  a  good  deal  of  exercise  at  any  age, 
but  more  especially  when  high  fed  in  order  to  have  him 
fit  for  immediate  use,  or  to  set  out  on  a  long  journey,  as 
experience  has  taught  us,  which  is  the  best  authority 
that  I  can  give. 

The  time  has  been  when  a  mare  colt  was  thought  by 
many  to  be  almost  valueless,  or  hardly  worth  raising  for 
the  market;  but  that  time,  with  many  other  false  notions 
(if  there  are  no  more  to  follow)  has  passed.  They  are 
now  thought  to  be  by  many  as  valuable  as  a  horse  colt, 
and  are  even  chosen  in  preference  to  him  by  some,  for 
the  following  reasons:  From  the  time  they  are  two  to 
five  years  old,  they  are  not  of  much  account  as  far  as 
work  is  concerned,  although  they  are  capable  even  at 
this  age  of  enduring  as  much  or  more  without  injury,  as 
the  gelding;  besides,  they  can  be  profitably  employed  in 


176  AVERY  S    OWN   FARRIER. 

breeding.  You  can  raise  two  colts  during  this  time, 
from  them,  which  improves  the  mare,  both  in  size  and 
form,  and  you  have  the  colts  in  the  bargain.  Besides 
this,  they  are  less  liable  to  disease,  are  as  good  travelers 
and  better  stagers,  &c.;  and  when  they  are  worn  out  for 
the  road,  as  it  were,  they  are  still  valuable  for  breeders — 
that  is,  many  of  them.  Mares  kept  exclusively  for 
breeders,  should  be  allowed  the  horse  at  a  proper  season. 
They  will  almost  invariably  be  in^the  heat  the  ninth  day 
after  foaling  (though  sometimes  a  day  or  two  sooner  or 
later),  and  are  very  apt  to  conceive  if  turned  at  this 
time,  being  seldom  in  heat  after  this  period,  while  suck- 
ling the  colt.     See  recipes  Nos.  72-77. 


avery's  own  farrier.  179 

the  stallion. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  in  feeding  this  animal 
during  the  service  season.  In  order  that  he  may  not 
become  exhausted,  and  be  a  sure  foal  getter,  he  should 
not  be  let  to  more  than  from  thirty  to  forty  mares  in  one 
season,  fur  his  own  welfare  and  that  of  his  progeny, 
without  some  artificial  stimulant  to  strengthen  and  re- 
plenish the  genital  organs,  more  than  he  takes  in  by  way 
of  food.  It  is  well  known  to  the  owners  of  this  kind  of 
horse,  that  when  they  have  let  him  serve  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred  mares,  their  horse  was  injured  in  proportion 
to  the  number  so  served,  or  the  colts  have  been  weak 
or  decrepid  (if  he  has  any),  and  not  unfrequently  both. 
Now,  to  remedy  this  evil,  without  losing  the  use  of  the 
horse,  would  be  a  great  desideratum  with  many;  and 
this  difficulty  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  when  we  take 
into  consideration  the  fact,  that  one  ounce  of  sperm  ex- 
tracted in  this  way,  is  equal  to  the  loss  of  forty  ounces 
of  blood,  or  two  pounds  and  a  half.  When  we  take  this 
view  of  the  case,  which  is  allowed  to  be  correct,  it  must 
be  evident  to  any  one,  that  unless  modified  in  practice, 
it  must  result  in  a  total  prostration  of  the  constitution  in 
the  end.  Every  attempt  to  remedy  this  difficulty,  so  far 
as  I  am  able  to  judge  (except  the  one  I  am  about  to  re- 
commend), has  resulted  in  a  loss  of  tone  and  derange- 
ment of  the  stomach,  whereby  the  remedy  has  proved 
equally  bad  with  the  difficulty  it  was  intended  to  obviate. 
The  stallion  should  be  kept  in  that  state  of  health  that 
will  ensure  the  greatest  degree  of  excellence  in  his  pro- 
geny, which  is  not  the  highest  state  of  fatness  alone, 
that  is  to  be  admired. 


180  avery's  own  farrier. 

The  horse,  during  the  season  of  service,  should  be  fed 

regularly,  and  on  solid  food.     A  pint  of  wheat  flour  may 

be  added  to  his  oats  and  corn  meal  once  a  day,  but  he 

should  not  be  given  anything  that  will  nauseate  him,  or 

hinder  digestion.     And  if  you  would  have  him  always 

ready  to  face  the  music,  give  him  one    of  the  following 

balls   every  morning  about    the    size  of   a   hen's   egg. 

These  cordials  are  made  by  mixing  together  one  quart 

of  strained  honey,  one  quart  of  oyster  meats,  one  pint  oF 

the  best   brandy,  four  ounces   of  the  superfine  flour   of 

slippery  elm  bark,  and  kept    in  a  tight  jar.     Take   out 

only  as  you  want  to  use,  and   ball   it,  which   may  be 

scented  with  anything  the  horse  is  fond  of,  and  he  will 

soon  learn  to  eat  them  readily  from  the  hand. 

"  With  flying  mane  and  fiery  look, 
Impatient  neighs  the  noble  steed." 

These  balls  are  sometimes  of  great  use  in  bringing  the 
mare  into  heat  at  a  proper  season,  by  adding  the  tincture 
of  cantharides.  Give  her  one  every  morning;  it  will 
not  require  more  than  three  to  bring  her  into  heat.  The 
tincture  may  be  added  for  the  horse  occasionally  if  need 
be,  but  for  constant  use  they  are  too  irritating  to  the 
urinary  organs.  I  once  owned  a  horse  that  sired  eighty- 
three  colts  in  one  season,  all  smart  and  robust,  and  the 
horse  ended  the  season  as  vigorously  as  when  he  began. 
Some  may  say  that  the  truth  is  not  to  be  spoken  at  all 
times;  so  say  I,  but  if  you  speak  at  all,  speak  the  truth, 
and  this  false  modesty  will  fly  like  chaff  before  the  wind. 
"  Thpre  is  a  lime  to  all  things." 


Avery's  own  fakrier.  181 

Man  was  not  born  to  sorrow  alone;  he  can  indulge  in  pleasing 
as  well  as  profitable  sports,  without  even  stepping  out  of  the 
path  of  peace  and  innocent  pleasure. 

To  fit  a  horse  for  trotting  or  running,  requires  all  the 
ingenuity  that  man  is  capable  of  bestowing  on  him,  and 
has  occupied  the  attention  of  the  best  horsemen  in  the 
world;  for  this  reason  1  deem  it  useless  for  me  to  attempt 
to  instruct  you  on  this  point  farther  than  I  have  already 
done;  and  the  whole,  in  order  to  the  animal's  performing 
labor  and  sustaining  a  continuance  of  action,  to  which 
he  would  noi  be  adequate  without  much  previous  pre- 
paration, would  not  be  a  very  easy  task  for  any  one  to 
undertake.  By  condition,  the  farmer  generally  means  a 
high  state  of  fatness;  but  not  so  with  the  amateur  sports- 
man; he  means  that  state  of  health  which  produces  the 
greatest  degree  of  strength  by  reducing  the  superfluous 
fat,  and  bringing  the  mere  flesh  into  clean,  hard  and 
powerful  muscle,  and  invigorating  the  lungs  and  other 
internal  organs,  so  that  they  may  promptly  discharge 
their  respective  functions,  and  suffer  no  damage  from 
uncommon  stress,  &c.;  for  a  horse  loaded  with  fat  could 
not  be  expected  to  be  successful  in  a  long  race. 

TIME    TABLE. 

The  most  extraordinary  speed  that  the  horse  has  been 
able  to  accomplish,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  will  be 
found  in  the  following  table,  which  is  a  matter  of  some 
interest  to  the  fast  men  of  the  age;  and  it  should  be  pre- 
served, as  it  has  been  carefully  compiled  by  the  Clipper 
from  various  authors,  both  English  and  American;  and 
in  the   main  is  thought  to  be  reliable;   but  as  it   is  un- 

16 


182  avery's  own  farrier. 

certain  whether  the  distance  and  time  will  agree  with 
the  present  reckoning,  is  a  matter  that  must  be  left  for 
the  reader  to  determine: 

Horse  Running. 

It  is  recorded  that  Firetail,  in  1772,  ran  a  mile  in  one 
minute  and  four  seconds. 

Fl}ing  Childers'ran  over  the  Round  Course  at  New- 
market (three  miles  six  furlongs  and  ninety-three  yards) 
in  six  minutes  and  forty  seconds;  and  on  the  Beacon 
Course  (four  miles,  one  furlong  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  yards)  in  seven  minutes  and  thirty  seconds. 
He  went  one-third  of  a  mile  in  twenty  seconds;  he  also 
made  a  leap  of  thirty  feet  on  level  ground ;  and  he  covered 
tw^enty-five  feet  at  every  stroke  while  racing. 

Eclipse  is  said  to  have  ran  a  mile  in  one  minute!!! 

In  1741,  at  the  Currah  in  Ireland,  Mr.  Wilde  rode 
one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  miles  in  six  hours  twenty- 
one  minutes,  employing  ten  horses  in  the  performance  of 
the  feat. 

Mr.  Thornhill,  in  1745,  rode  from  Stilton  to  London 
and  back,  and  again  to  London,  two  hundred  and  thirteen 
miles  in  eleven  hours  and  thirty-four  minutes. 

Mr.  Shaftoe,  in  1752,  with  ten  horses,  five  of  them 
ridden  twice,  accomplished  fifty  and  one  quarter  miles  in 
one  hour  and  forty-nine  minutes. 

In  1786  Mr.  Hull's  Quibbler  ran  twenty-three  miles, 
round  the  Flat  at  Newmarket,  in  fifty-seven  minutes  and 
ten  seconds. 

George  Osbaldeston,  in  1831,  performed  the  herculean 
task   of  riding  two  hundred  miles   in  eight  hours  and 


avery's  own  farrier.  183 

thirty-nine  minutes,  using  in  the  feat  twenty-eight  horses, 
some  of  them  two  and  three  times. 

It  is  also  on  record  that  Rataplan,  in  England^  1856, 
ran  a  three  mile  heat  in  five  minutes  and  twenty-one 
seconds. 

These  are  among  the  feats  and  time  said  to  have  been 
performed  in  England.  We  now  come  to  that  of  our 
owm  times  and  country,  which  are  as  follows: 

One  mile,  by  Henry  Perritt,  in  one  minute,  forty-two 
and  one-half  seconds. 

Two  miles,  by  Berry,  in  three  minutes,  thirty-six  and 
one-half  seconds. 

Three  miles,  by  Brown  Dick,  in  five  minutes,  twenty- 
eight  seconds. 

Four  miles,  by  Lexington,  was  run  in  seven  minutes, 
nineteen  and  three-quarter  seconds. 

Horse  Trotting. 

One  mile,  under  saddle,  by  Tacony,  in  two  minutes, 
twenty-five  and  one-half  seconds. 

One  mile,  under  saddle,  by  Lady  Suffolk,  in  two  min- 
utes, twenty-six  seconds. 

One  mile,  in  harness,  by  Tacony,  Highland  Maid,  and 
Flora  Temple,*  in  two  minutes,  twenty-seven  seconds. 

Two  miles  in  harness,  by  Flora  Temple,  in  four 
minutes,  fifty-nine  seconds. 

Two  miles,  under  saddle,  by  Lady  Suffolk,  in  four 
minutes,  fifty-nine  seconds. 

*  It  is  stated  Flora  Temple  made  the  best  time  on  record,  in  the 
trotting  match  with  Princess,  doing  her  second  mile  in  two  minutes, 
twenty-two  seconds. 


184  avery's  own  fakrier. 

Three  miles  to  250  lbs.  wagon,  by  Kemble  Jackson,  in 
eight  minutes,  three  seconds. 

Ten  miles,  in  harness,  by  Prince,  in  twenty-eight 
minutes,  eight  and  one-half  seconds. 

Twenty  miles,  in  harness,  by  Lady  Fulton,  in  fifty-nine 
minutes,  fifty-five  seconds. 

Fifty  miles,  in  harness,  by  Spangle,  in  three  hours, 
fifty-eight  minutes,  and  fifty-four  seconds 

One  hundred  miles,  in  harness,  by  Conqueror,  in  eight 
hours,  fifty-five  minutes,  and  fifty-three  seconds. 

Horse  Pacing. 

One  mile,  by  Pocahontas,  in  two  minutes,  seventeen 
and  one-half  seconds. 

One  mile,  by  Pet,  in  two  minutes,  eighteen  and  one- 
half  seconds. 

One  mile,  by  Roanoke,  in  two  minutes,  nineteen 
seconds. 

The  battle  is  not  always  to  the  strong,  nor  the  race  to 
the  swift;  but  we  like  to  see  speed  that  is  founded  on 
bottom. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

DISTEMPERS    CONTRACTED    BY    MARKETING. 

Thousands  of  horses  are  this  day  in  our  cities  which 
are  diseased  in  consequence  of  mismanagement  in  feed- 
ing and  want  of  exercise  previous  and  while  en  route 
thereto.  And  this  difficulty  is  but  little  heeded  or  even 
noticed    while  it  is  increased    by   the   present    mode  of 


Avery's  owin  farrier.  185 

conveying  them  by  rail  ard  boat  over  land  and  water. 
When  people  fell  into  this  common  error,  it  caused  a 
delay  in  selling  both  in  time  and  price;  and  the  addi- 
tional expense  accompanying  the  same,  make  it  un- 
proiitable  for  both  dealer  and  purchaser,  and  to  avoid 
which  is  certainly  very  desirable. 

I  would  rather  start  with  them  by  land  in  ill-condition, 
or  even  quite  poor  in  flesh,  than  to  fall  into  this  error; 
and  it  would  save  expense  to  the  dealer,  and  would  be 
better  for  the  purchaser,  who  would  be  more  likely  to 
get  a  sound  horse.  The  horse  in  this  condition  would 
thrive  while  increasing  his  feed  and  journeying  by  land, 
and  would  not  suffer  so  much  for  want  of  exercise  for  a 
few  days  if  conveyed  in  the  above  manner  as  one  loaded 
with  fat.  If  you  should  object  to  taking  them  into  the 
city  in  this  condition,  leave  them  at  the  outposts,  or  a 
convenient  distance  therefrom,  and  there  feed  and  exer- 
cise them  to  your  liking,  and  then  take  them  in  healthy 
and  sound,  when  they  will  command  a  fair  price  and 
meet  a  ready  sale,  instead  of  hazarding  their  lives  by 
confining  them  in  dark  and  stifled  stables  in  the  city 
until  they  are  diseased  and  rendered  unfit  for  use,  and 
are  liable  to  be  spoiled  with  the  first  day's  hard  drive; 
and  this,  too,  would  bring  your  customers  to  you,  instead 
of  your  having  to  run  after  them. 

But  to  come  to  the  point;  horses  after  being  fed  high, 
and  stimulated  with  grain  and  other  things,  and  poorly 
exercised,  are  but  iliy  fitted  to  undergo  the  sudden  changes 
of  air  consequent  to  a  long  journey  through  the  fog,  hot 
and  cool  breezes  in  crossing  our  lakes,  traversing  rivers, 
and  being  hurled  along  the  plains  in  the  cars,  &c.;  they 


186  avery's  own  farrier. 

often  take  slight  colds  in  this  way  that  are  not  noticed, 
or  neglected,  until  it  causes  a  derangement  of  the  stomach 
and  bowels,   which    impairs  the  appetite   and  digestive 
powers;  what  is  worst  of  all,  when  they  arrive  at  their 
journey's  end,  they  are  too  often  crowded  into  dark  and 
ill-ventilated  stables  to  complete  their  misery.     This  is 
the  way  in  which  many  diseases  of  the  horse  are  caused, 
stuffing  up  the  thoracic   organs,  and  sometimes  exciting 
a  cough   and  a  slight  running   at  the  nose,  which  may 
often  lead  to  other  disease  and  general  debility,  for  the 
above  exciting  causes  show  themselves  in  various  forms 
according   to  the  predisposing  condition  of  the  system. 
To  prevent  the  above  difficulty,  when  you  are  to  convey 
them  any  considerable  distance,  give  as  a  stomachic  to 
invigorate  and   strengthen    the   system   every  morning, 
before  feeding,  in  ball,  a  small  dose  of  peppermint,  cam- 
phor and  red  pepper,  with  good  exercising.     For  a  day 
or  two  previous  to  arriving  in   the  city  (and  after  also) 
use  a  little   of  the  nose  ointment  on  the  septum,  &c., 
given  for  glanders,  which  will  enable  you  to  go  in  safe 
and  remain  sound,  with  good  stable  management.     But 
if  you  should  at  any  time  discover  symptoms  of  distem- 
per, make  free  use  of  the  condition  powder  No.  1;  with 
a  continuance   of  the  above,  and   you  will  come  out  all 
right.     Consult  the  remedies  given  for  infectious  diseases, 
&c.,  &c. 

Then  sometimes  horses  are  injured  in  taking  them  by 
the  overland  route,  too.  They  are  often  driven  too  far 
the  first  day  of  their  journey,  not  being  accustomed  to 
traveling  on   the  road;  and  then  again    their   masters 


avery's  own  farrier,  189 

sometimes  overtry  their  abilities  for  endurance,  in  conse- 
quence of  becoming  a  little  excited  on  some  topic  of  the 
day  themselves,  or  get  a  little  too  much  of  the  crathur 
in  the  head.  And  sometimes  this  happens  when  they 
are  going  to  market  with  other  articles,  or  riding  from 
town  for  pleasure,  &c.,  for  there  are  various  ways  of 
abusing  this  noble  animal. 

Symptoms. — If  the  driver  goes  to  bed  at  all,  he  rises 
rather  late  the  next  morning,  and  on  going  to  the  stable, 
if  you  find  the  horse  with  his  back  still  wet  with  dew 
immediately  over  the  kidneys,  after  all  the  rest  of  his 
body  is  dry,  it  is  a  sure  evidence  that  he  has  been  driven 
too  hard. 

Cure. — The  next  time  the  man  goes  on  a  spree,  let 
him  go  alone,  and  give  the  horse  a  moderate  dose  of 
oats,  adding  a  good  brushing  and  comfortable  bedding; 
thus  remove  the  cause  and  I  will  warrant  the  evil  to 
cease. 

A    GOOD     HORSE. 

Some  men  are  quite  apt  to  go  to  extremes  in  their 
judgment  upon  the  value  of  a  horse.  What  one  man 
would  call  a  good  horse,  others  will  call  good  for 
nothing.  Now  the  Maker  knew  well  the  pattern  he 
worked  by,  for  in  variety  only  are  found  fitness  and  ele- 
gance which  contain  the  spice  of  life.  Thus  all  may 
be  suited  if  they  only  knew  themselves  what  they  want, 
and  learn  to  choose  one  that  is  well  adapted  to  their 
minds  and  business. 

Supposing,  for  instance,  that  the  mechanic  should  set 
himself  to  work  and  make  a  fine  looking  wagon  or  car- 


190  avery's  own  farrier. 

riage  out  of  pine  or  basswood,  using  sole  leather  for  the 
tire,  the  man  "who  bought  it  might  be  disappointed,  for 
it  would  not  do  him  the  service  he  had  expected.  Well, 
now  has  he  any  reason  to  find  fault  with  the  workman- 
ship, which  he  examined  for  himself?  I  think  not. 
Well,  should  he  curse  the  timber  of  which  it  was  made? 
Certainly  not;  for  it  is  good  for  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  designed.  But  the  deception  consists  in  a  misap- 
plication of  the  material  of  which  the  wagon  was  naade, 
which  was  not  intended  to  take  the  place  of  iron,  nor  the 
white  oak  and  sugar  maple.  Thus  it  is  with  horses; 
they  are  all  good  in  their  proper  spheres;  they  may  be 
bred  too  delicate  of  constitution  or  limb  for  the  climate 
they  are  employed  in,  but  this  is  no  fault  of  theirs.  The 
wants  of  man  are  so  varied  that  there  are  none  of  these 
animals  found  so  large  or  small,  swift  or  slow,  but  that 
they  may  be  profitably  employed  for  some  purpose  or 
other. 

The  minds  and  tastes  of  men  differ  as  much  (and  per- 
haps more),  than  the  size,  shape  and  color  of  horses; 
therefore  it  would  be  a  pretty  nice  piece  of  work  for  one 
man  to  accomplish,  to  select  a  horse  that  would  please 
all  his  neighbors  in  every  respect.  Therefore,  when  I 
see  a  horse  that  is  well  adapted  and  calculated  for  the 
business  that  he  is  employed  in,  whether  it  is  on  the 
farm  or  the  road,  on  the  canal,  in  livery  or  menagerie, 
in  saddle  or  harness,  I  call  him  a  good  horse.  But  a 
clearer  view  of  my  idea  or  fancy  of  a  good  horse,  and 
one  that  will  be  most  likely  to  please  the  eye  of  many, 
may  be  had  by  referring  to  my  description  of  the  same 
in  the  chapter  on  breeding,  &c. 


avery's  own  farrier.  191 

Give  me  a  horse  with  a  good  shoulder  (not  too  heavy), 
with  his  fore  legs  far  enough  apart  to  give  ample  room 
for  the  play  of  his  lungs,  and  a  good  stifle;  then  he  has 
room  to  carry  his  dinner  with  him.  With  these  requi- 
sites, and  a  good  pair  of  legs  (for  the  whole  value  of  a 
horse  is  in  his  limbs),  he  will  do  very  well  for  all  work. 
As  to  color,  I  think  it  makes  but  little  difference,  other 
things  being  rightly  considered,  but  is  a  point  of  taste 
as  a  general  rule.  Some  argue  that  a  dark  colored  horse 
has  stronger  muscles,  and  is  more  durable;  but  if  we 
allow  this  to  be  so,  it  may  be  overbalanced  by  the  wiry 
nerve,  and  a  higher  degree  of  intelligence  possessed  by 
those  of  a  lighter  color.  A  dark  or  brown  colored  nose, 
with  heavy  mustache,  always  denotes  good  bottom. 

COMPARISONS. 

The  so  styled  father  of  medicine  (Hippocrates)  did 
much  in  his  time  and  way,  undoubtedly,  for  the  benefit 
of  his  race,  in  the  discoveries  he  made  in  the  healing 
art;  and  a  vast  amount  of  good  has  been  accomplished 
by  the  different  reformers  since  his  time  in  this  way; 
hence  it  becomes  our  duty  to  improve  all  we  can  upon 
the  advantage  thus  offered  us,  and  perhaps  future  gene- 
rations will  still  have  more  to  do  before  they  bring  this 
science  to  a  state  of  perfection. 

Perhaps  I  may  be  pardoned  if  I  should  venture  to  draw 
a  figure  here  to  illustrate  some  of  my  views  on  the  sub- 
ject before  us.  For  instance,  when  people  are  habitually 
costive,  they  learn  to  regulate  their  diet  by  a  free  use  of 
beans,  onions,  or  Indian  corn,  and  pumpkin  bread,  or 
other  things  that  nature  helps  us  to  provide  in  the  form 


192  avery's  own  farrier. 

of  food;  they  will  find  but  little  use  for  the  bitter  root 
and  steaming,  which  may  be  used  to  such  an  extent,  as 
to  become  in  time  as  injurious  to  the  system,  as  the 
older  practice  of  the  use  of  calomel  and  the  lancet. 
Therefore  we  see  that  an  ounce  of  preventive  is  equal  in 
value  to  a  pound  of  cure.  Did  you  ask  what  has  this  to 
do  with  the  horse?  We  will  see  directly.  In  most  cases 
of  disease  where  a  physician  is  called,  it  is  the  animal 
feeling  and  powers  that  are  diseased,  whereby  the  phy- 
sical strength  is  lessened.  So,  what  is  good  for  man  is 
also  good  for  the  horse,  and  has  about  the  same  effect  on 
the  one  as  on  the  other,  generally  speaking,  under  similar 
circumstances;  but  when  the  mind  or  mental  faculties 
are  impaired,  then  it  becomes  quite  a  different  thing 
which  we  have  nothing  to  do  with  here. 

Now,  supposing  a  horse  to  have  the  heaves,  and  you 
feed  him  with  clean,  bright  straw,  or  stalks  (instead  of 
musty  hay),  and  also  let  potatoes,  carrots  and  apples  form 
a  part  of  his  diet,  and  he  will  perform  as  much  work  as 
before  he  was  diseased,  and  seldom  show  any  symptoms 
of  the  disease.  Well,  now,  had  he  lived  on  this  kind  of 
food  previous  to  his  being  attacked  with  this  disease, 
and  had  not  been  allowed  to  take  cold,  would  it  not  have 
served  as  a  preventive  against  the  disease?  Reason 
teaches  us  that  it  would  most  certainly.  And  so  it  is 
with  most  diseases  of  the  horse.  They  can  be  prevented 
by  judicious  feeding,  careful  driving,  a  close  observation 
of  and  supplying  their  many  wants.  To  this  I  am  mainly 
indebted  for  my  success.  1  have  been  as  seldom  puzzled 
as  a  great  many  others  in  telling  what    part  of  the  ma- 


avery's  own  farrier.  193 

chinery  was  out  of  order,  or  to  find  a  remedy  for   their 
relief. 

In  sections  of  country  where  the  heaves  are  a  very 
prevalent  disease  with  the  horse,  a  great  number  of  its 
inhabitants  die  of  consumption;  but  in  some  parts  of  the 
western  states  for  instance,  the  horse  is  seldom  if  ever 
known  to  have  what  is  called  heaves  in  other  parts  of 
the  country,  and  there  the  people  know  nothing  com- 
paratively about  consumption.  Thus  it  behooves  us  all 
to  study  into  the  causes  of  disease,  and  also  their  best 
remedies  and  preventives,  for  the  better  we  understand 
these  things,  the  better  we  shall  be  prepared  to  combat 
them  when  overtaken  by  them.  The  wise  will  not  trust 
wholly  to  the  doctors  in  this  respect,  for  they  live  on  the 
ignorance  and  misfortune  of  the  people.  (Well,  they  do 
not  live  alone  if  they  do,)  But  some  one  may  think  the 
doctors  must  live  too.  That  is  very  true.  Every  one 
should  live  by  his  own  industry;  but  any  one  worthy  of 
the  name,  will  keep  himself  in  advance  of  the  common 
people  sufficient  to  answer  as  a  safeguard  for  him.  And 
if  it  should  be  otherwise,  they  w^ould  only  be  placed  on 
an  equal  footing  with  others  in  producing  the  necessaries 
of  life  (by  the  sweat  of  the  brow),  instead  of  destroying 
it,  which  no  lover  of  peace  and  law-abiding  person  would 
have  reason  to  find  fault  with.  But  as  the  great  book  of 
nature  was  opened  for  all,  we  all  have  an  undisputed 
right  to  peruse  its  leafy  pages,  and  treasure  up  what 
knowledge  we  obtain  from  its  teachings,  for  our  own 
benefit  as  well  as  that  of  others;  and  the  better  we  un- 
derstand  this  great  work,  the   better  it  will    be  for  the 

regular  physician,  and  the  better  it  will  be  for  all.     The 

17 


194  avery's  own  farrier, 

science  will  floufish  better  when  it  enables  him  to  com- 
mand a  better  price  for  his  labor,  and  there  will  be  less 
suffering,  less  imposition  and  quackery  in  the  world. 

A  change  of  diet  ahnost  invariably  has  a  salutary 
effect  while  treating  most  diseases;  for  instance,  in 
fevers  and  inflammation,  let  the  diet  be  more  simple, 
cooling,  &c.,  &c. 


<  ♦  • » > 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ON  TRAINING  AND  EDUCATING  THE  HORSE;  TOGETHER  WITH  AN- 
ECDOTES, &C.,  ILLUSTRATIVE  OF  THE  SAGACITY  AND  FRIEND- 
SHIP EXHIBITED  BY  THE  HORSE  AND  OTHER  ANIMALS  TOWARDS 

MAN. 

To  raise  the  genius  and  improve  the  mind,  the  old  psalmist 
played  on  a  harp  of  many  strings. 

It  has  been  wisely  said  by  one  of  our  ancient  philoso- 
phers, that  the  greatest  study  of  man  was  to  know  him- 
self. Now  when  we  have  fully  learned  our  own  genius 
and  capacit}^  to  control  and  manage  the  horse  perfectly, 
in  all  the  various  branches  of  his  education  that  he  is 
capable  of  arriving  at,  which  now  is  only  in  its  infancy, 
we  shall  have  attained  a  high  degree  of  eminence  towards 
that  end.  And  then  we  have  been  privileged  by  the  high- 
est authority  to  have  dominion  and  rule  over  all  the 
beasts  of  the  fiekl;  or,  of  the  whole  animal  creation  we 
were  to  be  lord  and  master.  We  were  not  told  in  a  word 
how  to  accomplish  all  this,  but  we  were  given  wisdom 
sufficient,  when  applied  to  this  purpose  (which  was  left 


avery's  own  farrier.  195 


as  a  part  of  our  duty),  to  find  out  our  superiority  over 
the  animal  creation  in  this  respect  for  ourselves. 

In  order  to  have  perfect   control  over  the  horse,   and 
govern   him    properly    at    all    times  (instead   of   being 
governed),  there  is  one  thing  highly  necessary.     In  the 
first  place    we   must  learn  to  govern  ourselves,  that  is, 
govern  our  passions,  and  never  lose  our  presence  of  mind 
througli  fear,  nor  allow  ourselves  to  fly  into  a  passion,  or 
get  excited  on  any  account  whatever,  nor  chastise  the 
horse  in  anger  any  sooner  than  you  would  a  child.     He 
that  does  this  well  wnll  seldom,  if  ever,  be  compelled  to 
whip  either  with  the  rod.     He  will  soon  learn  that  there 
is  a  nobler   w^ay  to  accomplish  his  purpose,  which  con- 
sists   in  the   superiority   of  mind  and  reason   that    he 
holds  over   him  (which    is  the  gift  of  God),  and  when 
fully  developed  and  used  for  this  purpose,  with  the  means 
hereinafter  mentioned,   will  be  more  than  suflficient  to 
govern   this  noble  animal.     Fear   (in  one  sense  of  the 
word)  is  the  absence  of  reason,  therefore  to  rid  ourselves 
of  fear  let  us  exercise  what  reason  we  have  given  us.     A 
person  may  give  way  to  fear  and  work  himself  into  such 
an  excited  state  of  mind  as  to  dethrone  reason  altogether, 
and  then  become  a  perfect  maniac.     Many  a  one  has  lost 
his  life,  or  even  died  through  fear  alone. 

All  horses  are  susceptible  of  receiving  more  or  less 
knowledge,  according  to  their  individual  organization; 
and  the  higher  mettled,  or  the  more  ambitious  a  horse  is, 
the  easier  he  will  learn  when  the  law  of  kindness  is  ap- 
plied, ?nd  the  harder  it  is  to  subdue  him  by  brute  force. 
A  careful  observer  can  readily  tell  a  horse  that  will  learn 
easily  by  his  phrenological  development,  or  the  degree 


196  avery's  own  farrier. 

of  intelligence  that  he  is  capable  of  arriving  at,  &c.; 
among  the  requisites  of  which  are  fine  limbs  and  muzzle, 
head  not  too  disproportionably  large  for  the  body,  ears 
small  or  slim,  not  too  far  apart  and  of  quick  motion,  eyes 
prominent  and  wide  apart,  and  large  nostrils;  white  feet 
and  face  are  not  objectionable  in  this  respect,  and  a  hol- 
low face  denotes  speed  and  high  spirits;  though  a  round 
face  and  Roman  nose  indicate  a  degree  of  docility  that 
is  seldom  met  with  in  others,  if  the  head  is  not  too  nar- 
row above  the  eyes.  There  must  be  sufficient  room  in 
the  cavity  of  the  skull  for  the  mass  of  brain  that  is  so 
necessary  for  this  purpose  (notwithstanding  the  other 
requisites),  and  which  is  the  mainspring  of  all  motion. 
The  ancients  seem  lo  have  employed  their  horses 
mostly  for  the  purposes  of  war,  and  that  of  the  chariot 
race.  The  training  of  them,  both  for  war  and  the  race, 
seems  to  have  occupied  much  time  and  attention,  and  to 
have  been  conducted  with  a  degree  of  skill  which  could 
not  have  been  attained  without  considerable  study  and 
experience.  Pliny  truthfully  said  that  by  the  ears  of  a 
horse  you  could  discover  his  intention.  Buffon  also  re- 
marked that  when  a  horse  walks,  his  ears  point  forward; 
when  fatigued,  they  hang  down;  and  when  angry,  one 
ear  points  forward  and  the  other  backward.  The  eye  as 
well  as  the  ear  plainly  tells  the  intention  of  a  horse; 
when  the  head  is  rather  bowed,  and  the  eye,  with  the 
effort  to  look  out,  is  not  much  moved  in  the  socket,  with 
coni^iderable  expression  of  the  surrounding  parts,  as  often 
winking,  «Slc.,  all  is  well;  but  when  the  head  is  only  a 
little  raised,  with  the  eye-balls  turned  so  as  to  show  con- 
siderable white  of  the  eye,  and  the  ears  lay  close  to  the 


Avery's  own  farrier.  197 

neck  or  point  backwards,  then  look  out  for  teeth  and 
heels,  which  are  their  weapons  of  war.  Every  horse 
turns  his  eye  as  well  as  ear  to  that  side  from  which  he 
hears  a  noise,  and,  when  struck  from  behind,  he  turns  his 
ears  backwards  as  an  expression  of  dislike;  or,  in  other 
words,  the  ears  always  point  the  way  he  looks. 

"  The  notion  of  fire  rolling  within  his  nostrils,  is 
highly  descriptive  of  the  natural  appearance  of  these 
organs  when  the  animal  neighs,  or  is  much  excited. 
This  is  occasioned  by  the  unusual  flow  of  blood  which 
becomes  distinctly  visible  through  the  fin%  membrane 
with  which  the  nostrils  are  lined." 

The  steed,  says  Virgil,  should  first  be  accustomed  to 
see  without  fear  the  arms  of  the  warrior  in  fight,  and  to 
endure  the  clangor  of  the  trumpet,  to  listen  to  the  bridles 
rattling  in  the  stalls,  and  to  hear  the  rumbling  of  the 
chariots  over  the  ground.  And  while  yet  a  colt,  he 
should  be  soothed  with  kindly  tones  from  his  master's 
voice,  and  gently  patted  on  his  neck  till  he  comes  to 
rejoice  in  being  commended  and  flattered. 

In  training  the  colt  for  the  ring  or  the  chase^  the  old 
masters  began  with  him  at  the  age  of  three  and  four,* 
and  he  was  trained  to  run  in  the  ring  with  measured 
pace,  to  bend  his  legs  with  ease,  and  to  prance  in 
"  changeful  curves."  His  speed  was  to  be  gradually 
increased  "  till  he  seemed  to  challenge  the  wind  as  he 
fled  with  ardour  over  the  level  meadow,  unconscious  of 
his  reins,  skimming  so  lightly  as  scarcely  to  print  the 
surface  of  the  sand."  After  being  trained  in  the  above 
manner,  the  animal  was  to  be  fed  plentifully  with  corn 
and  other  fodder,  until  the  body  became  large  and  robust. 


198  avery's  own  farrier. 

"  But  if  pampered  with  corn  before  being  trained,  he 
will  become  stubborn,  and  though  held,  he  will  some- 
times rebel  against  the  lash  and  the  curb." 

When  the  horse  is  in  the  habit  of  shying  or  sheering 
at  anything  on  the  road,  do  not  whip  him  for  it.  It  is 
sure  to  make  him  worse.  For  whenever  he  sees  the 
same  object  again,  it  reminds  him  of  the  chastisement 
he  received  before;  but  let  him  know  that  you  are  his 
friend,  by  using  kind  and  soothing  words  and  gentle  usage. 
Although  you  may  speak  in  an  authoritative  tone  some- 
times, if  necessary,  stop  him  and  let  him  approach  the 
object  of  his  fright,  slowly  and  cautiously,  and  you  will 
soon  break  him  of  this  bad  habit.  The  eye  falsifies  ob- 
jects, which  are  the  cause  of  the  animal's  shying  and 
fright;  therefore  he  wants  time  to  satisfy  himself  that 
there  is  nothing  to  hurt  him,  either  by  seeing  or  smelling. 

When  you  are  driving  a  horse  before  a  carriage,  and 
he  gets  frightened,  and  starts  to  run,  if  you  allow  your- 
self to  become  frightened  and  excited  at  the  event,  or 
show  any  sign  of  fear  (which  it  is  very  difficult  to  avoid, 
I  will  admit)  by  hallowing,  or  in  any  way  so  that  the 
horse  discovers  a  cause,  he  catches  also  at  the  dilemma, 
and,  with  renewed  rage,  it  increases  his  speed  and  your 
danger.  When  you  can  possibly  avoid  this,  and  speak 
in  a  calm  and  gentle  tone  to  him,  together  with  the  help 
of  the  reins,  you  will  soon  calm  his  fear  and  all  will  be 
well.  As  illustrative  of  the  above  facts,  I  will  relate  a 
circumstance  that  took  place  not  long  since  in  my  own 
town,  and  with  reliable  friends:  A  gentleman  and  wife 
were  returning  from  a  ride  in  a  carriage,  and  when  about 
a  mile  from  their  village  home,  while  descending  a  steep 


avery's  own  farrier.  199 

hill,  some  of  the  harness  gave  way,  and  let  the  carriage 
on  the  horse  \\hich  frightened  him,  and  he  began  to  kick 
and  run  down  the  hill,  when  the  man  leaped  from  the 
carriage,  telling  his  better  half  to  do  the  same.  But  this 
happening  in  the  fashionable  days  of  crinoline,  it  was 
not  so  convenient  for  the  lady  to  do  so  in  this  way;  so 
she  (while  the  horse  was  at  the  top  of  his  speed),  with 
great  presence  of  mind,  and  possessing  the  ability  that 
her  husband  lacked,  composedly  reached  over  and  picked 
up  the  reins  that  he  in  his  fright  had  dropped,  and  in 
woman's  quiet  manner,  very  soon  succeeded  in  stopping 
the  frightened  animal,  and  then  as  quietly  stepped  out  of 
the  carriage  and  took  the  horse  by  the  bit,  and  was 
caressing  him  when  the  man  came  up  to  her  assistance, 
if  such  vou  could  call   it.     I  have  read  somewhere  that 

a/ 

a  good  wife  was  more  precious  than  rubies,  aud  I  think 
she  must  be  one  of  them. 

I  am  well  aware  of  the  fondness  or  reluctance  of  the 
horse  to  leave  buildings  while  they  are  on  fire  (which  is 
a  kind  of  instinct),  for  you  may  drive  or  back  a  horse 
up  to  a  fire,  and  as  it  begins  to  burn  him,  he  will  draw 
closer  and  closer  to  it  until  you  can  scarcely  force  him 
away.  Hence  comes  the  great  difficulty  of  removing 
horses  from  the  stable  when  the  surroundinof  buildino:s 
are  in  a  state  of  conflagration,  whereby  so  many  valu- 
able horses  have  been  lost.  Notwithstanding  all  this, 
the  difficulty  generally  arises  from  the  excitement  that 
prevails  on  such  occasions,  when  you  lose  all  control  you 
had  over  them.  But  if  you  would  avoid  this,  approach 
them  at  such  times  with  no  unusual  degree  of  alarm  or 
excitement,  and  speak  to  them  kindly,  and,  for  instance, 


200  avery's  own  farrier. 

throw  the  harness  over  their  backs  as  though  they  were 
to  go  about  their  usual  work,  and  they  will  obey  you  at 
once,  and  thus  be  saved  from  the  perils  of  the  flames. 
Now  these  facts  I  have  witnessed.  Truth  cannot  perish; 
it  is  everlasting,  it  is  heavenly. 

In  order  to  show  the  wonderful  sagacity  of  the  horse, 
and  the  great  attachment  and  friendship  that  may  exist 
between  him  and  man,  as  well  as  other  animals,  and 
man's  capacity  to  govern  them  under  a  proper  mode  of 
treatment,  I  will  give  place  here  to  a  few  well  authenti- 
cated anecdotes  of  some  of  the  most  important  animals 
in  the  world,  which  go  to  show  also  what  man  can  ac- 
complish when  destitute  of  fear  or  excitement  of  any 
kind. 

I  will  begin  by  relating  the  (almost  incredible)  story 
as  given  ty  Ezra  Smith,  of  a  voyage  among  the  South 
Sea  Islands,  where  the  vessel  was  wrecked  and  the  only 
one  of  the  crew  saved  was  finally  landed  on  the  deserted 
shore  of  an  uninhabited  part  of  the  island.  Alone  with 
a  small  compass  he  happened  to  save  by  having  it  in  his 
pocket,  he  directed  his  course  towards  ihe  nearest  place 
known  to  him  to  be  inhabited,  which  was  several  days' 
journey.  After  traveling  all  day,  at  night  he  lay  down 
to  rest  his  wearied  limbs,  with  only  the  precaution  of 
building  a  fire  near  his  feet  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
off  the  wild  beasts  that  inhabited  that  country.  Shortly 
after  lying  down,  he  heard  a  heavy  tread  near  him,  and 
immediately  arose  and  saw  a  huge  lion  approaching 
him.  Being  of  iron  nerve,  and  thinking  that  the  time 
had  come  that  he  must  die,  and  that  he  might  as  well 
submit   to   his  fate  calmly,  he  quietly  awaited  the  ap- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  *    201 

proach  of  his  deadly  foe,  which  was  made  cautiously, 
halting  several  times,  and  at  last  came  close  to  his  fire. 
After  eyeing  him  very  closely  for  sometime,  and  finding 
him  not  in  the  least  daunted,  he  held  his  foot  up  in  the 
light  of  the  fire,  the  man  then  discovering  that  his  foot 
was  dreadfully  swollen,  and  thinking  that  at  the  worst 
he  could  but  die,  at  once  commenced  an  examination  of 
the  foot,  in  which  he  found  a  large  sliver  or  stub,  which 
had  caused  it  to  fester  and  become  swollen.  He  deliber- 
ately took  his  knife  and  opened  the  foot,  dug  out  the 
stub,  talking  caressingly  in  the  meantime,  without  either 
of  them  betraying  the  least  sign  of  fear.  After  per- 
forming the  operation,  the  man  took  his  seat  near  the 
fire,  and  found  to  his  great  astonishment  that  he  had  a 
friend  with  him  instead  of  an  enemy,  in  the  shape  of  a 
lion,  for  the  lion  came  and  licked  him,  and  lay  down  by 
his  side  during  the  night,  and  the  next  day  went  several 
times  and  caught  wild  game  for  him  to  subsist  on,  and 
even  followed  him  like  a  pet  for  several  days.  Now 
supposing  the  man  had  allowed  himself  to  become 
frightened  and  excited  on  this  occasion,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  the  lion,  seeing  his  timidity,  would  have 
devoured  him  at  once. 

As  I  have  given  one  of  the  lion,  I  will  add  another 
about  the  great  memory  of  this  animal,  as  it  is  allowed 
by  experienced  men  that  the  horse  equals,  if  not  excels, 
most  other  animals  in  this  respect.  Herr  Driesbach,  the 
great  lion  tamer,  after  leaving  his  old  companions,  the 
lions,  leopards  and  tigers,  for  years,  returned  to  revisit 
them  in  their  cages,  where  the  scene  is  described  as 
having   been   most  affecting.     The  lioness,  which   was 


202  a\ery's  own  farrier. 

a  particular  favorite,  caught  sight  of  him,  and  her  eyes 
beamed  with  pleasure,  while  her  tail  wagged  a  glad 
recognition.  On  his  coming  up  to  her,  she  appeared 
frantic  with  joy;  and  when  he  spoke  to  her  and  pre- 
sented his  face  to  the  cage,  she  kissed  him  and  placed 
her  paw^  in  his  hand  with  the  air  of  an  intense  affection, 
and  licked  his  hands  while  he  attempted  to  pat  her. 

And  then  there  was  another  of  Herr's,  the  elephant. 
A  circumstance  happened  while  the  menagerie  was  com- 
ing into  Newark.  The  elephant's  keeper  fell  from  his 
horse  in  a  fit;  the  whole  company  came  to  a  hair,  and 
one  of  its  members  went  forward  to  pick  up  the  sick  man, 
but  the  elephant  would  not  allow  him  or  any  person  to 
approach  the  lifeless  form  of  his  master.  Taking  him 
with  his  trunk  softly,  he  would  place  him  on  his  horse, 
but  finding  that  the  man  was  senseless,  he  laid  him  on 
the  ground  and  kept  watch  over  him.  Several  members 
of  the  menagerie  tried  to  soothe  the  faithful  animal,  who 
had  now  become  furious  at  the  supposed  death  of  his 
friend,  but  to  no  purpose,  and  there  the  man  lay  watched 
by  this  sagacious  animal.  After  lying  in  this  condition 
for  some  time,  a  physician  who  had  been  sent  for  arrived, 
and  yet  the  elephant  would  allow  no  one  to  approach 
the  man  till  at  length  the  keeper  became  so  far  con- 
scious as  to  command  the  elephant  to  let  the  physician 
come  near  him,  and  then  the  animal  was  docile  and 
obedient  in  a  moment.  The  keeper  w^as  cared  for,  the 
elephant  all  the  while  expressing  the  utmost  anxiety  for 
the  sick  man. 

Were  these  animals  spoken  of  above  forced  wholly  by 
blows    of  the  whip  to    love    and    obey    their  masters  ? 


AVERY  S    OWN    FARRIER.  203 

Most  certainly  not.  Now  I  have  given  an  illustration 
of  the  king  of  the  forest,  as  the  lion  is  called,  and  also  of 
one  of  the  largest  quadrupeds  of  the  present  time,  in  the 
foregoing  anecdotes,  thus  showing  how  memory,  sym- 
pathy, pity  and  affection  are  all  blended  together  in 
these  animals  towards  man,  and  his  power  and  ability  to 
render  them  subservient  to  his  will  and  have  dominion 
over  them.  Now  is  this  instinct,  is  it  reason,  or  what  is 
it?  I  pause  here  for  an  answer,  though  I  will  endeavor 
to  answer  the  question  in  my  way  when  I  speak  of  the 
horse.  But  who  will  dare  fix  the  limits  of  the  instinct 
or  reasoning  faculties  of  the  animal  creation? 

For  fear  that  I  have  already  wandered  too  far,  I  will 
return  again  to  the  horse,  which  is  one  of  the  most  tract- 
able, having  the  greatest  memory,  and  is  withal  one  of 
the  most  affectionate  and  sympathizing  animals  among 
the  larger  quadrupeds  in  the  world.  To  prove  the  first 
of  these  assertions,  it  would  only  be  necessary  for  you  to 
pay  a  visit  to  Dan  Rice's  great  show,  or  Franconi's 
hippodrome,  and  there  see  the  horse  perform  some  of  his 
wonderful  feats,  dance,  waltz  and  keep  perfect  time  with 
the  music,  equaling  in  this  respect  a  first  class  dancing 
master.  And  then  he  has  done  this  on  the  stage  where 
the  floor  was  chequered  with  eggs,  in  squares  of  two  feet 
apait,  without  even  moving  one  of  them.  Although  the 
horse  is  assisted  by  the  motion  of  the  rein  and  whi])  in 
keeping  time  in  the  performance  of  these  plays,  he  does 
not  do  it  without  considerable  intelligence  on  his  part. 
If  you  have  any  objections  to  being  satisfied  as  to  the 
truth  of  above,  by  visiting  the  circus,  you  should  re- 
member that  if  there  is  any  evil  produced  by  it,  it  will 


204  avery's  own  farrier. 

come  from  a  misapplication  of  the  knowledge  thus  de- 
rived. The  same  skill  required  to  manage  the  horse  in 
the  ring,  would  enable  one  to  ride  all  over  a  patch  of 
corn  or  potatoes  without  even  treading  out  a  single  hill; 
and  then  again,  amusement  of  some  kind  is  as  necessary 
for  the  support  of  a  healthy  mind,  as  food  is  for  the  body. 
To  have  proven  the  latter,  you  should  have  seen,  as 
thousands  did  with  me,  that  old  white  war  horse  of  Gen. 
Taylor  following  the  hearse  that  bore  his  late  and 
lamented  friend  to  the  tomb,  with  his  head  drooping 
half  way  to  the  ground,  as  if  in  deep  thought,  or  filled 
with  pity  and  love  for  the  hero,  and  his  late  master. 

And  then  I  have  seen  the  young  and  spirited  horse 
stand  over  and  watch  his  master  who  had  fallen  from 
his  back  while  drunk.  I  have  seen  the  horse,  also, 
while  carrying  the  inebriate  on  his  back,  actually  dodge 
one  way  and  the  other  in  order  to  balance  his  rider,  so 
as  to  prevent  his  falling  off.  Which  of  the  two  animals 
manifested  the  roost  reason  here,  do  you  think? 

Then  the  war  horse  has  been  seen  lo  dash  on  to  the 
charge  at  the  sound  of  the  bugle,  with  all  the  courage 
of  a  veteran  soldier.  Away  he  would  dash  through 
blood  and  carnage,  wherever  his  master  guided  him; 
and  when,  jjerchance,  his  rider  fell,  he  would  stop  in  the 
midst  of  his  heat  and  fury,  and  become  pensive  and 
mournful,  sympathizing  with  his  wounded  friend;  or, 
when  dead,  has  been  known  to  rush  on  with  renewed 
vigor  into  the  enemy's  ranks,  stamping  them  to  the 
earth  wherever  Jie  went,  to  avenge  his  master's  death. 

The  poet  has  given  a  fine  description  of  the  war 
horse,  in  the  following  lines: 


avery's  own  farrier.  205 

"  If  then  the  distant  clang  of  arms  he  hears, 
He  paws,  he  bounds,  he  pricks  his  listening  ears, 
Quivering  his  joints,  and  snorting  with  desire, 
Wilhin  his  nostril  nils  the  thickered  fire; 
Adown  his  crest  his  locks  recumbent  stray — 
OVr  his  right  blade  the  bushy  honors  play, 
His  horny  hoof  upturns  the  hollow  ground, 
And  rings  the  air  in  grave  and  solid  sound." 

Who,  when  they  study  the  nature  of  the  horse  and 
consider  his  superior  muscular  power,  can  think  of  low- 
ering himself  (as  he  must)  to  subdue  him  by  force  alone? 
I  have  broken  a  great  many  colts  for  the  saddle  and 
harness,  and  1  never  knew  one  of  them  to  prove  balky 
or  vicious  afterwards;  and  I  have  cured  many  a  one  of 
his  vicious  habits  that  was  supposed  to  be  spoiled  by 
others.  And  here  let  me  say  lo  you,  that  if  you  should 
ever  fail  to  accomplish  your  design  in  the  manner  herein- 
after set  forth,  and  be  compelled  to  resort  to  the  lash, 
do  not  whip  the  horse  in  the  team  where  you  will  be 
likely  to  worry  the  one  at  his  side,  nor  before  the  wagon 
where  he  is  likely  to  break  the  carriage  or  harness, 
besides  conquering  you  (instead  of  being  conquered),  as 
most  assuredly  he  will,  nine  times  out  of  ten;  and  then 
you  are  worse  off  than  when  you  began.  But  take  him 
out  of  the  harness  to  some  convenient  place  (a  stall  for 
instance),  where  he  is  confined,  so  that  he  does  not  hurt 
you  nor  himself,  and  then  chastise  him  as  you  think  he 
deserves;  or  take  him  out  of  the  harness  and  bit  him 
close,  and  you  will  find  it  a  difficult  matter  to  drive  him 
far  from  you  with  the  whip,  for  he  will  oftener  follow 
you  around  than  run  away.  The  reason  of  this  will  be 
made  manifest  as  I  proceed. 

18 


206  avery's  own  farrier. 

You  should  not  resort  to  the  lash  (if  you  would  have 
a  kind  horse),  even  if  you  should  fail  on  the  first  or 
second  trial  wilh  other  means,  nor  be  at  all  discouraged. 
Remember  that  time, patience,  industry  and  perseverance, 
are  among  the  grand  masters  of  the  world.  And  it  is 
just  as  necessary  that  you  do  not  let  your  horse  know,  or 
find  out  in  any  way,  that  you  are  afraid  of  him,  as  it  is 
to  avoid  being  excited  or  angry  (as  before  stated).  If 
you  do,  he  is  certain  to  take  advantage  of  it,  and  you 
can  not  control  him.  Never  go  up  to  a  horse  and  slap 
him  without  first  speaking  to  him,  unless  you  are  posi- 
tive that  he  sees  you;  then  stand  close  to  him, for  it  is  use- 
less to  try  to  dodge  the  ball  after  you  hear  the  report  of  the 
gun,  and  then  you  are  safer  than  you  would  be  to  stand 
off  and  reach  towards  him  with  the  timidity  of  a  coward, 
for  he  has  not  the  chance  then  to  hurt  you  even  if  he  is 
vicious  and  so  disposed.  There  is  no  high  spirited  horse 
that  can  not  be  balked;  for  instance,  you  ill-treat  him  by 
half-starving,  overloading,  holding  him  in,  or  hitching 
him  to  anything  he  can  not  draw  and  then  whip  him, 
and  he  will  soon  become  discouraged  and  vicious;  and 
then  there  is  no  horse  of  this  temperament  that  can  not, 
with  proper  management,  be  made  kind  and  true  to 
work  in  any  place  you  wish  him.  Generally  speaking, 
there  are  more  balky  drivers  than  balky  horses.  The 
reason  of  this  is,  they  do  not  understand  the  nature  and 
disposition  of  the  horse  they  are  tampering  with.  Balky 
horses  are  generally  high  spirited  ones,  easily  excited, 
frustrated,  get  mad,  and  the  more  they  are  whipped  for 
it,  the  worse  they  get  while  under  the  sting  of  the  lash; 
for  their  grit  is  already  raised  too  high,  and  they  become 


avery's  own  farrier.  207 

furiously  mad  and  quite  uncontrolable.  But  instead  of 
this  harsh  treatment,  they  need  something  to  calm  and 
sooth  them,  and  then  they  become  perfectly  manageable. 

A  horse  that  has  been  thus  ill-treated,  will  oftentimes 
allow  himself  to  be  caught  in  the  field  by  a  lady  or 
child,  and  obey  them  in  any  reasonable  task  with  kind 
treatment,  when  they  would  refuse  to  obey  a  cruel  mas- 
ter in  doing  the  same  thing.  The  following  text  can  be 
had  reference  to  as  you  proceed  with  my  views  on  the 
subject: 

With  all  his  other  noble  qualities,  the  horse  is  a 
coward,  by  which  he  can  be  made  to  perform  feats  in 
the  menagerie,  through  fear  of  punishment,  that  he  can 
not  be  made  to  do  in  any  other  way.  This  accounts  for 
his  sometimes  being  conquered  by  coercion.  And  then 
there  are  other  acts  required  of  him  where  kind  treat- 
ment is  indispensably  necessary  to  fit  him  for  the  service 
of  the  ring  (as  well  as  all  other  places),  such  as  distin- 
guishing sounds,  &c.,  or  one  word  from  another.  To 
imitate  lameness  for  instance,  or  to  lay  down,  is  a  know- 
ledge he  acquires  by  the  familiarity  of  certain  words, 
with  a  given  signal  to  obey  them.  This,  some  pretend,  is 
a  recent  discovery  among  the  capabilities  of  the  horse. 
To  them  it  may  be  so,  but  others  have  long  known  that 
\he  horse  could  learn  to  distinguish  the  words  woa,  get 
up,  or  as  the  Frenchman  says,  mustaw,  zounds,  &c., 
from  all  others.  But  for  domestic  purposes,  kind  treat- 
ment is  decidedly  the  best,  and  is  the  basis  of  all  other 
proper  modes  of  governing  the  horse,  without  which  you 
can  not  have  a  kind,  true  and  safe  one  for  family  use. 

I  believe  the   earth  produces   suitable   vegetation  in 


208  avery's  own  farrier. 

some  form  for  the  sustenance  and  welfare  of  the  whole 
animal  creation  thereon;  and  that  vegetation  contains 
medicinal  properties  suitable  for  the  prevention  and  cure 
of  every  known  disease,  when  rightly  understood  and 
properly  applied;  and  also  among  the  different  varieties, 
there  are  some  suited  to  the  peculiar  taste  and  smell  of 
every  species  of  animals,  by  the  use  of  which  they  may 
be  ensnared,  tamed,  domesticated  and  made  useful  and 
submissive  to  the  will  of  man.  Those  substances  which 
the  horse  appears  to  be  most  passionately  fond  of,  are 
what  I  purpose  to  speak  of  next.  The  reduction  of  him 
to  a  domesticated  s'ate,  with  skillful  training  until  his 
education  is  completed,  is  one  of  the  greatest  acquisitions 
ever  made  by  the  art  and  industry  of  man.  The  charm, 
or  great  secret  of  taming  horses  as  used  by  the  ancients, 
is  as  follows:  The  horse-castor  is  a  wart-like  protube- 
rence  that  grows  on  the  inside  of  every  horse's  fore  legs; 
it  has  a  peculiar,  rank,  musty  smell,  and  is  easily  pulled 
off.  The  ammonial  effluvia  of  the  horse  seems  to  con- 
centrate in  this  part,  and  its  odor  has  a  great  attraction 
for  animals,  especially  canine,  and  the  horse  himself. 
This  should  be  taken  off  and  dried  by  a  moderate  heat, 
as  too  great  a  heat  destroys  the  scent  thereof,  when  it 
should  be  graled  into  a  fine  powder,  and  corked  tight  in 
a  bottle  so  as  to  exclude  it  from  the  air,  and  it  is  fit  for 
use.  For  the  oil  of  cummin  the  horse  has  an  instinctive 
passion;  both  are  said  to  be  original  natives  of  Arabia. 
When  the  horse  scents  its  odor  he  is  instinctively  drawn 
towards  it.  The  oil  of  rhodiuin  possesses  peculiar  prop- 
erties; all  animals  seem  to  cherish  a  fondness  for  it;  this, 
with  the  use  of  the  others,  produces   a  kind  of  languid 


avery's  own  farrier.  209 

feeling,  or  subduing  influence  over  the  horse,  so  much  so 

that  you  may  do  what  you  please  with  him,  and  he  will 

not  resent  it,  provided  you  do  not  hurt  him. 

When  a  colt  is  old  enough  to  wean  and  begin  to  feed, 

give  him  occasionally  from  the  hand  a  piece  of  sugar, 

with  a  little  of  this   powder  sprinkled  on  it;  this  will 

make  him  very  fond  of  you,  and  he  will  be  seen  coming 

towards  you  whenever  he  sees  you  in  field,  to  get  some 

of  it  10  eat.     In  this  way  he  will  become  very  familiar 

with  you,  and  always  be  good  to  catch  —  the  contrary 

of  which  is  a  great  fault  with  many. 

"  'Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind; 
Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined." 

But  you  should  not  deceive  him  by  pretending  you 
have  something  for  him  when  you  have  not;  for  his 
memory  is  such  that  he  may  play  you  a  trick  in  return  by 
not  coming  to  you  next  time. 

If  you  are  dealing  with  a  wild  horse,  or  one  that  is 
hard  to  catch,  you  must  use  a  little  stratagem  with  him 
(as  he  is  quite  apt  to  do  with  you);  rub  some  of  the  oil 
of  cummin  on  your  hand  and  pass  him  on  the  windward 
side  of  the  field  as  close  to  him  as  you  can  without  start- 
ing him.  Act  perfectly  indifferent  about  catching  him, 
or  scarcely  notice  him  after  passing  several  times  in  his 
way.  If  he  does  not  come  to  you  before,  go  as  near  to 
him  as  you  can,  being  sure  to  stop  and  stand  still  before 
he  starts  to  leave  you,  and  he  will  soon  come  to  you, 
when  you  should  let  him  smell  of  your  hand,  and  also 
give  him  some  of  the  powder  to  eat  on  sugar  or  a  piece 
of  an  apple,  and  you  will  have  no  diflSculty  in  haltering 
and  leading  him  from  the  field.     By  having  something  in 


210  '  avery's  own  farrier. 

your  hand  he  likes,  whether  it  is  sugar,  salt,  or  oats,  you 
will  not  be  likely  to  have  any  difficulty  in  catching  him 
afterwards. 

There  is  no  operation  to  be  performed  in  breaking  the 
colt  or  subduing  the  vicious  horse,  wherein  he  seems  to 
be  more  sensible  of  the  loss  of  his  liberty,  than  he  does 
by  being  bitted;  and  none  where  he  appears  to  be  more 
willing  to  obey  our  commands,  when  made  known  to 
him,  than  that  of  laying  him  down  at  our  feet. 

BITTING    THE    HORSE. 

Whenever  he  is  brought  out  for  this  purpose,  give  him 
something  to  eat  from  the  hand  that  he  likes,  which 
makes  him  fond  of  you.  Then  put  on  the  bit  and  curb, 
using  a  large  bit  for  this  purpose,  until  his  mouth  be- 
comes a  little  hardened,  but  not  long  enough  at  a  time 
to  tire  him;  if  you  do  you  overtax  the  muscles  of  the 
neck,  which  will  have  a  tendency  to  throw  the  neck  down 
instead  of  up;  but  begin  gradually,  day  by  day,  until  he 
is  thoroughly  bitted;  always  talk  gently  and  caressingly 
to  him,  and  he  will  follow  you  like  a  pet. 

If  he  is  to  be  broke  to  work  in  the  harness,  hitch  him 
to  nothing  but  what  he  can  draw  easily  at  first,  and  in- 
crease his  load  by  degrees.  If  you  hitch  him  up  by  the 
side  of  one  that  is  well  broke,  all  the  better.  After  he 
pulls  well,  give  him  some  of  the  powder,  or  anything 
else  he  likes  to  eat;  but  if  he  refuses  to  go,  blow  a  quill 
full  of  this  powder  up  his  nostril,  and  place  about  four 
drops  of  each  of  the  oils  in  his  nostrils  and  on  his  tongue, 
which  you  can  do  by  means  of  a  piece  of  sponge,  or  a 


AVERY*S    OWN    FARRIER.  211 

small  thimble  held  between  your  thumb  and  finger,  using 
no  harsh  means,  and  he  will  soon  obey  your  command. 
If  he  is  to  be  broke  for  the  saddle,  observe  the  above 
rules.  Ride  fearlessly  and  promptly  with  your  knees 
.  pressed  to  the  sides  of  the  horse,  and  your  toes  in  and 
heels  out;  then  you  will  always  be  on  the  alert  for  a  shy 
or  a  sheer,  and  he  can  not  throw  you  provided  you  carry 
your  hands  close  to  his  neck  so  as  to  grab  the  mane  if 
necessary. 

TO  LEARN  A  HORSE  TO  LIE  DOWN. 

This  he  will  often  do  the  first  time  he  is  curbed,  after 
he  is  well  bitted  and  learned  to  follow  you.  Have  a 
padded  surcingle  with  a  small  ring  in  the  back  ol'  it,  then 
fasten  the  end  of  a  small  cord  to  the  bit  about  twenty 
feet  in  length,  and  let  the  horse  play  around  you,  keep- 
ing hold  of  the  other  end  of  the  cord.  After  learning 
him  to  play  around  you  in  changeful  curves,  right  and 
left,  bring  him  to  you  by  means  of  the  cord,  and  give 
him  some  of  the  sugar  and  powder  to  eat  from  the  hand 
again  (for  tasting  is  one  of  the  animal  senses  and  must 
be  gratified  to  gain  the  good  will,  &c.),  then  let  him  run 
around  again,  and  by  cracking  the  whip  in  his  face  as  a 
signal,  he  will  soon  learn  to  stop  running,  or  come  to 
you  without  the  aid  of  cord,  to  taste  something  he  likes; 
and  all  this  at  the  crack  of  the  whip.  Now  if  you  wish 
him  to  lie  down,  be  gentle  with  him;  and  while  you  are 
patting  and  caressing  him,  place  some  of  the  oils  in  his 
nostrils,  or  on  his  tongue,  or  you  may  let  him  snuff  chlo- 
roform from  your  handkerchief  while  you  are  brushing 
his  nose  (without  being  noticed  if  you  choose).     At  the 


212  avery's  own  farrier. 

same  time  run  the  cord  from  the  bit  through  the  ring  in 
the  surcingle,  keeping  hold  of  the  other  end,  and  start 
him  off  at  a  slow  place,  pulling  gently  on  the  cord  till 
he  comes  round  to  you,  and  his  nose  is  turned  round  near 
the  ring,  holding  it  there  firmly  with  one  hand  and  a 
switch  in  the  other.  Now  command  him  in  a  clear  and 
distinct  tone  to  lie  down,  repeating  the  command  and 
switching  the  fore  legs  until  you  are  obeyed.  By  re- 
peating this  operation  several  times,  he  will  learn  to  lie 
down  by  commanding  him,  or  even  by  any  given  signal 
to  do  so.  When  he  lies  down,  you  can  loosen  the  cord 
and  keep  him  down  by  placing  your  foot  on  his  neck. 
He  is  now  your  pupil  and  friend,  and  can  be  taught  to 
understand  and  do  almost  anything  you  choose  to  learn 
him.  Few  horses,  after  being  dealt  with  iy  this  manner, 
will  ever  require  anything  else  but  kind  treatment  after- 
wards to  always  be  kind  and  obedient  in  any  spot  you 
may  place  them. 

We  sometimes  meet  with  vicious  horses  (as  it  were) 
or  those  that  have  been  ill-treated  by  their  owners,  until 
they  are  afraid  of  almost  every  thing  ihey  see,  and  will 
balk  even  at  the  sight  of  the  whip.  To  render  them 
kind  and  safe  for  family  use,  or  learn  them  to  perform 
any  of  the  feats  they  are  capable  of  doing  in  the  circus 
or  menagerie,  or  to  fit  them  for  the  parade  or  battle-field, 
is  certainly  a  very  desirable  object.  They  should  not  be 
afraid  of  anything,  but  be  taught  to  love  and  obey  their 
masters,  notwithstanding  what  may  be  going  on  around 
them.  This  can  be  accomplished  only  by  kind  treatment 
or  a  strict  ob>ervance  of  the  foregoing  directions.  To 
cure  a  horse  of  scaring  at  the  sight  of  a  lady's  parasol. 


avery's  own  farrier.  213 

or  anything  that  you  can  take  in  your  hand — after  placing 
some  of  the  powder  and  oil  of  cummin  on  the  nose — go 
up  to  him  (talking  in  rather  an  undertone  of  voice) 
with  the  article  in  your  hand,  not  shaking  it  to  try  to 
frighten  him,  but  let  him  first  smell  of  it;  this  he  likes, 
for  he  smells  nothing  only  what  you  rubbed  on  his  nose, 
which  he  takes  to  be  the  object  you  hold  in  your  hand; 
then  carry  it  around,  hold  it  over  him,  let  him  view  it, 
and  his  fear  will  vanish.  If  he  is  afraid  of  a  carriage 
top  or  anything  that  you  can  not  well  carry  to  him,  the 
process  will  be  the  same;  only  you  must  lead  or  drive 
him  to  it,  and  not  be  hasty  about  urging  him  to  approach 
the  object  of  his  fright,  but  give  him  time  to  view  it  and 
satisfy  himself  that  it  is  nothing  to  hurt  him.  When  he 
obeys  your  command  in  doing  this  (or  anything),  com- 
mend him  by  patting  him  on  the  neck,  or  giving  him 
something  to  taste  he  loves.  This  inspires  him  with 
confidence  and  friendship  which  he  remembers,  and  he 
will  approach  any  object  you  wish  him  to  fearlessly. 

The  horse,  unlike  other  animals,  breathes  only  through 
the  nostrils;  hence  we  seethe  distended  nostril  while  he 
is  in  the  act  of  running  or  hard  breathing  from  whatever 
cause.  So  when  the  object  is  only  to  have  him  smell 
the  medicine,  place  it  on  or  in  the  nose.  But  when  you 
wish  it  to  have  a  little  more  subduing  influence  over  the 
animal  propensities,  place  it  on  the  tongue. 

You  may  learn  a  horse  to  stand  anywhere  without 
hitching,  by  riding  or  driving  him  to  where  you  can 
stop  and  leave  him  so  he  does  not  see  you,  and  yet 
where  you  can  lay  you  hand  on  the  reins  the  moment  he 
attempts  to  start,  going  to  him  often;  and  when  he  does 


214  apery's  own  farrier. 

not  start7  give  him  something  he  loves  to  taste;  pat  and 
caress  him;  but  you  can  not  learn  him  to  stand  without 
hitching,  by  whipping  him  for  starting.  If  you  wish 
not  to  have  your  horse  afraid  of  the  report  of  a  gun,  or 
the  noise  of  a  drum,  rub  the  oil  of  cummin  on  the  nose 
so  he  will  not  smell  the  powder,  and  place  about  six  or 
eight  drops  of  the  oil  of  rhodium  on  the  tongue.  Then 
commence  drumming  or  firing  near  him,  very  lightly  at 
first,  occasionally  giving  him  a  little  sugar  or  anything 
he  likes  to  eat.  You  may  increase  ihe  noise  by  degrees 
until  he  becomes  so  familiar  with  it  that  he  will  not  care 
anything  about  the  noise  of  a  drum  or  gun  at  any  time 
or  place. 

It  would  be  almost  impossible  for  one  man  to  point 
out  all  the  niceties  necessary  to  be  observed  in  the  edu- 
cation and  training  of  the  horse,  even  if  he  understood 
therh;  but  if  I  were  going  to  learn  one  the  A  B  C,  I 
would  not  try  to  teach  him  botany  or  algebra  at  the 
same  time,  for  this  would  only  confuse  and  overtax  his 
memory.  I  would  begin  first  by  learning  him  thoroughly 
to  understand  some  simple  thing  that  he  could  easily  com- 
prehend and  remember,  before  I  commenced  with  another. 
Then  take  up  another  branch,  and  so  on;  for  it  is  not 
so  diflScult  to  climb  in  this  way,  that  we  need  to  turn 
from  the  bramble  and  say  sour  giapes  Be  not  hasty, 
and  you  will  accomplish  more  in  a  given  time.  When 
you  are  trying  to  learn  him  anything,  watch  his  eye  and 
ear  carefully,  for  by  the  motion  of  these  you  will  be  able 
to  perceive  whether  he  is  inclined  to  do  as  you  bid  him 
or  not;  for  it  is  only  when  he  is  in  a  playful  mood  that 
you  need  attempt  to   make   an  i-mpression  towards  the 


avery's  own  farrier.  215 

advancement  of  his  education.  If  he  is  not  inclined  to 
obey  you  at  first,  wait  patiently  until  he  is;  do  not  urge 
hiin  too  much  at  first;  keep  your  eye  on  his,  as  he  ever 
will  on  you;  then  you  will  discover  by  the  motion  of  the 
ear  and  the  expression  of  the  eye  when  he  is  willing  to 
mind  you.  Then  show  him  whatever  you  wish  him  to 
do,  by  motions,  or  by  pushing  him  to  do  it,  or  even  in 
some  cases  do  it  yourself,  and  then  make  him  do  the 
same;  for  the  horse  is  often  known  to  imitate  his  master 
when  thus  inclined  to  mind.  The  word  should  always 
be  distinctly  given  to  suit  every  effort  made  to  have  him 
learn  to  do  anything,  whether  there  is  to  be  any  coercion 
used  or  not;  and  whenever  he  does  the  least  thing  as 
you  tell  him  to,  you  should  pat  and  give  him  a  taste  of 
anything  he  has  learned  to  like,  as  an  expression  of  de- 
light in  being  obeyed.  In  this  way  his  memory  enables 
him,  as  he  becomes  familiar  with  his  master's  voice  and 
words,  to  be  taught  almost  anything  he  choses  to  learn 
him,  that  his  cultivated  intellect  is  capable  of  acquiring. 
You  can  learn  him  to  understand  what  you  say  to  him; 
and  you  can  learn  him  to  perform  any  little  trick  you 
please,  by  the  slightest  motion  of  the  hand,  foot  or  whip, 
or  even  by  the  motion  of  your  own  eye,  telling  him  in 
this  way  what  you  wish  him  to  do,  after  he  has  become 
familiar  with  the  signal,  by  its  being  accompanied  with 
the  word.  Such  is  the  keen  perception  of  this  animal. 
When  a  horse  has  been  well  broke  in  this  manner, 
or  by  kind  treatment,  he  will  always  be  safer  to  drive 
and  handle  than  one  broke  in  the  usual  manner  (or  not 
at  all,  as  a  great  many  are),  and  he  will  remain  so 
through  life,  or   at   least  in  the  hands  of  a  kind  master; 


216  AVERY^S    OWN    FARRIER. 

for  he  has  been  trained  and  educated,  and  is  more  tame 
and  obedient,  consequently  his  value  is  greater. 

When  you  have  a  horse  that  is  bad  to  handle  with 
the  bridle,  and  apt  to  pull  too  hard  for  you,  have  a  slip 
rein  and  let  it  run  over  the  top  of  his  head  instead  of 
the  jaw,  and  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  managing 
him;  though  I  have  seen  them  so  well  broke  that  they 
did  not  need  any  bridle  on  at  all,  but  would  obey  the 
word,  and  yet  they  would  come  out  of  the  stable  like 
tigers  in  respect  to  courage. 

Can  the  horse  be  charmed?     I  say  he  can. 

"  Like  the  tone  of  the  gun, 

That  startles  the  deep,  when  the  connbat's  begun," 

I've  had  my  horse  take  fright  and  run, 

When  others  might  think  they  were  undone. 

But  I  whistled  and  laughed  quite  merrily  when  it 
would  have  the  effect  of  stopping  him  (almost  without 
the  use  of  the  reins)  before  going  ten  rods.  I  do  not 
say  that  every  one  can  do  this;  some  are  gifted  more 
than  others.  But  any  one  can  do  a  great  deal  towards 
driving  away  fear  at  such  times,  which  is  always  so 
disastrous,  for  man  has  the  power  of  mind  and  capacity 
given  him,  necessary  to  control  and  govern  the  horse 
under  almost  every  circumstance,  when  he  learns  how 
to  apply  it  to  this  purpose.  You  can,  to  say  the  least, 
instead  of  hallowing  and  screaming,  or  jumping  over- 
board, if  you  speak  at  all  do  it  mildly,  and  in  rather  an 
under  tone  of  voice  with  the  help  of  the  reins. 

And  you  will  be  most  likely  to  calm  his  fear, 

And  rejoice  when  you  check  him  in  his  mad  career. 

Now,  by  following  these  directions,  and  always  show- 


avery's  own  farrier.  217 

ing  yourself  kind  fo  the  horse,  you  will  be  able  to  learn 
him  anything  that  he  is  capable  of  performing,  and  he 
will  not  be  afraid  of  everything  he  sees,  but  will  obey 
your  commands.  For  this  reason  it  inspires  him  with 
confidence,  and  he  takes  you  to  be  his  friend.  Such  is 
the  efficacy  of  this  mode  of  treatment,  with  or  without 
medicating;  it  creates  a  friendly  feeling  tow^ards  you  at 
the  time  by  subduing  the  animal  propensities  of  his 
nature,  and  then  by  kind  treatment  afterwards,  you  can 
keep  up  this  feeling.  Thus  you  are  lord  and  master,  and 
have  dominion  over  him,  though  some  may  doubt  the 
authenticity  of  this  remark;  but  notwithstanding  the 
lapse  of  ages  and  the  progress  of  our  race,  man,  with 
all  his  wisdom,  has  not  been  able  to  pen  a  more  truth- 
ful one   since  this  w^as   done,  in  this  respect. 

This  rule  is  more  particularly  applicable  to  the  high 
spirited  or  intelligent  horse.  When  he  will  not  go  with- 
out the  whip,  he  can  seldom  be  made  to  go  with  it.* 
He  can  and  should  be  made  to  feel  the  bit,  and  obey  the 
motion  of  the  rein  and  whip,  which  he  can  be  made  to 
fear  to  a  certain  degree  sufficient  for  this  purpose,  with- 
out blunting  the  edge  of  his  better  feelings.f  Now,  ride 
fearlessly  and  as  merry  as  you  please  with  the  reins  in 

*  And  when  he  is,  he  generally  has  to  be  broke  every  time  he  is 
harnessed. 

fDraw  a  taut  rein,  a  gentle  pressure  increases  the  speed  of  the 
walker;  a  sudden  roll  of  the  hand  (that  holds  the  reins)  so  as  to  draw 
one  and  slack  the  other,  is  a  signal  to  trot-,  and  both  alternately  the 
gallop.  Either  the  slack  rein  or  word  will  notify  him  when  he  is  to 
stop. 

19 


218  avery's  own  farrier. 

one  hand  and  a  good  whip  in  the  other,  fearing  nothing 
except  a  mean  act. 

It  is  hoped  that  those  who  may  chance  to  read  this  for 
the  purpose  of  gaining  knowledge,  may  be  benefited  by 
its  perusal.  They  can  melt  the  contents  thereof  in  the 
mind's  crucible,  giving  me  credit  only  for  what  is  left 
after  taking  out  the  dross.  But  those  who  read  it  with 
no  other  motive  than  that  of  fault-finding,  can  keep  their 
rods  in  pickle,  and  have  the  lasso  in  readiness,  until  they 
think  they  are  able  to  profit  by  their  use.  Reader,  will 
you  please  to  excuse  me  for  making  these  side  remarks, 
for  I  get  almost  angry  at  myself  sometimes,  because  I 
can  not  do  any  better. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


ON    THE    SUBJUGATION  OF    THE    HORSE  W^ITHOUT    MEDICATION. 

The  foregoing  is  a  very  humane  system  of  treating 
the  horse,  and  one  that  is  attended  with  the  best  success 
in  subjugating  all  horses  for  domestic  purposes;  and  yet 
there  is  another  method  by  which  they  may  be  trained 
and  subjugated,  that  no  less  shows  the  superiority  of 
man  than  the  willingness  of  the  horse  to  obey  him,  when 
our  wishes  are  made  known  to  him;  without  medica- 
tion. The  domesticated  horse  seldom  needs  anything 
more  than  kind  treatment  at  our  hands  to  render  him 
obedient  to  our  commands,  after  he  has  learned  what  we 
desire  of  him,  for  his  instinct  leads  him  to  love  and  obey 
man.     Although  the  horse,  not   unlike  other  animals  in 


avery's  own  farrier.  219 

this  respect,  is  possessed  of  a  kind  of  wild  fear  of  man 
(in  a  natural  state),  that  must  be  overcome  before  we 
can  successfully  proceed  to  learn  him  anything  else. 
This  the  Mexicans,  as  well  as  the  Indians,  accomplish  in 
their  way  with  the  lasso,  in  catching  them  wild,  by  de- 
coying and  riding  up  to  a  herd  of  them,  and  throwing  it 
over  the  head  of  one  (around  the  neck  of  the  animal), 
and  then  follow  him  in  the  chase  until  he  is  choked 
down.  After  this  he  is  not  hurt,  but  caressed  and  talked 
to,  when  he  is  hampered  and  led  to  the  camp  without 
further  trouble,  where  he  soon  learns  to  love  and  obey 
his  master. 

"  Make  my  breast, 
Transparent  as  pure  crystal,  that  the  world  jealous 
Of  me  may  see  the  foulest  thought  my  heart 

Doth  hold." 

Some  thirty  years  ago,  while  experimenting  with  a 
balky  horse  that  had  refused  to  pull,  having  some  dis- 
tance to  travel,  and  night  being  near,  after  other  means 
(that  we  were  then  acquainted  with)  had  failed  to  make 
him  pull,  as  trying  to  lead  him  by  holding  a  handfull  of 
oats  or  hay  before  his  nose,  getting  on  his  back  and  try- 
ing to  ride  him,  whistling,  changing  drivers,  and  whip- 
ping, &c.,  for  these  things  had  sometimes  caused  him  to 
,  pull,  but  being  of  no  use  to  us  now,  I  availed  myself  of  the 
expedient  of  taking  a  large  rope  halter,  giving  it  a  slip 
noose  round  his  neck,  and  then  hitched  another  team  to 
the  other  end  of  the  rope,  by  which  means  he  was  drawn 
some  twenty  rods.  Some  of  the  way  he  was  on  his  feet 
and  the  remainder  on  his  side;  after  which  he  pulled 
well  for  a  long  time.     And  whenever  he  refused  to  pull 


220 


avery's  own  farrter. 


after  this,  all  that  was  necessary  to  make  him  obey  the 
word,  was  to  place  a  rope  or  strap  around  his  neck  and 
choke  him  a  few  minutes.  By  this  I  learned  that  chok- 
ing had  a  subduinof  influence  over  the  most  obstinate  of 
horses,  and  which  I  occasionally  resorted  to.  A  friend, 
where  we  stopped  over  night,  requested  me  to  tell  him 
how  I  managed  to  make  that  horse  work  so  well  (for  he 
was  an  old  offender),  and  I  told  him  the  process  made 
use  of  on  this  occasion.  About  a  year  after  this  I  again 
met  this  friend,  when  he  threatened  to  give  me  a  flog- 
ging, for,  said  he,  1  had  a  noble  horse,  only  once  in  a 
while  he  would  balk  so  I  could  do  nothing  with  him,  so 
I  just  put  a  chain  around  his  neck,  and  hitched  my  oxen 
to  it  and  draws  him  only  just  a  little  ways,  and  Ise  broke 
his  neck — Ise  did!  This  circumstance  made  me  a  little 
cautious  about  recommending  this  mode  of  subduing  the 
horse,  and  also  led  me  to  study  the  nature  and  disposi- 
tion of  him  more  carefully,  for  I  thought  if  he  could  be 
subdued  in  this  way,  there  must  be  a  nobler  and  better 
way  for  man  to  accomplish  it.  Therefore,  on  the  dis- 
covery (to  me)  of  such  an  one,  I  abandoned  the  former, 
as  cruel  and  barbarous,  more  than  twenty  years  ago. 

Now  I  do  not  expect  to  be  fortunate  enough  to  make 
myself  renowned  in  relating  my  experience  or  observa- 
tion of  the  horse  in  this  respect;  but  I  trust,  mainly  on 
the  merits  of  this  subject,  to  become  useful  to  those  who 
feel  an  interest  in  this  important  topic  Firstly,  the 
horse  is  governed  and  receives  his  instruction  through  the 
five  senses,  viz:  seeing,  tasting,  hearing,  smelling,  and 
feeling;  ihe  one  of  seeing  seems  to  rather  predominate, 
but  the  most  of  these   are  more   acute   than  even  man's, 


avery's  own  farrier.  221 

for  they  partially  supply  the  place  of  reason  in  the  ani- 
mal. Secondly,  he  is  governed  (like  all  other  animals) 
by  his  instinct,  which  is  combined  in  the  five  senses;  and 
one  of  the  qualities  of  his  instinct  is  to  fear  the  approach 
of  man,  whom  he  looks  upon  as  his  superior.  This  is 
more  especially  the  case  when  he  is  in  a  wild  state;  but 
when  this  wild  fear  is  changed  to  love  by  kind  treat- 
ment, it  is  increased  an  hundred  fold.  Another  of  these 
is  to  love  and  obey  man  when  domesticated  and  educated, 
which  he  generally  does  unless  his  animal  propensities 
are  aroused  by  ill-treatment;  for  it  is  an  undisputed  prin- 
ciple in  the  nature  of  this  animal  not  to  offer  resistance 
to  our  wishes,  when  made  known  to  him  in  a  manner 
that  he  can  understand  us;  and  of  course  it  follows  that 
this  must  be  done  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his 
nature. 

As  an  evidence  of  my  position  here,  allow  me  to  di- 
gress a  little  from  the  subject  in  question  in  order  to 
illustrate  my  views  of  this  instinct.  All  created  beings 
have  a  share  of  this  after  their  kind,  and  in  their  own 
peculiar  manner,  according  to  their  respective  grades  and 
circumstances.  For  instance,  look  at  the  chicken;  see 
him  hide  and  skulk  away  (at  first  sight)  from  his  deadly 
foe,  the  hawk,  as  he  approaches  him;  and  how  soon  he 
yields  when  once  clasped  in  the  talons  of  his  masterly 
power.  He  appears  to  be  sensible  of  his  inferiority  to 
the  hawk;  and  so  it  is  w^th  the  smallest  insect  that  crawls 
on  the  earth;  they  all  appear  to  be  acquainted  with  each 
other's  habits  and  propensities  up  through  the  whole 
chain  of  created  beings.  Speaking  of  this  chain,  as 
some  may  doubt  the  theory,  reminds  me  of  what  the  phi- 


222  avery's  own  farrier. 

losopher  Wyllys  truthfully  says  in  regard  to  it:  that  if 
there  was  a  link  wanting,  the  ends  thereof  surely  lap  by 
far  enough  to  tie,  and  that  some  of  the  lower  order  of 
the  human  species  run  below  some  of  the  higher  grades 
of  animals,  as  to  their  reasoning  faculties,  there  can  be 
but  little  doubt.  And  as  another  evidence  of  what  I  have 
stated  above,  you  will  permit  me  to  relate  the  story  of 
the  spider  and  the  snake,  as  told  by  the  Hon.  A.  B. 
Dickinson,  which  I  will  give  in  his  own  words.  "  I  will 
not  attempt,"  he  says,  "  to  say  where  instinct  leaves  off 
or  knowledge  begins,  but,  perhaps,  I  may  as  well,  by  way 
of  illustration,  tell  a  story,  though  most  of  you  have  un- 
doubtedly heard  it,  and  many  were  witnesses  to  this  won- 
derful sagacity  on  the  part  of  the  spider  in  stringing  a 
snake  up  by  the  neck.  The  great  thing  in  the  whole 
affair  was  in  putting  the  web  over  the  mouth  of  the 
snake,  which  was  done  with  as  much  skill  as  a  first  class 
mechanic  could  have  muzzled  a  dog  to  prevent  his  biting. 
This  web  was  secured  around  the  snake's  neck,  and  then 
hoisting  was  commenced  at  the  rate  of  one-quarter  of 
an  inch  in  twenty-four  hours,  by  thickening  and  twisting 
up  the  web. 

The  snake  was  first  discovered  by  a  merchant,  under 
his  counter,  where  he  had  undoubtedly  been  carried  with 
saw  dust,  which  had  been  put  in  several  weeks  previous 
to  prevent  mud  from  being  tracked  about  the  store.  When 
the  reptile  was  first  discovered  by  the  merchant  he  took 
a  club  to  kill  it,  but  he  observed  that  it  seemed  to  be  fast 
without  seeing  what  held  it,  the  web  being  too  small  to 
be  seen  by  the  naked  eye.  After  he  became  satisfied 
through  a  magnifying  glass  that  the  creature  was  fast- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  223 

ened,  he  next  discovered  that  the  web  was  around  its 
neck,  and  fastened  to  the  under  part  of  the  shelf.  They 
were  watched  closely  day  by  day  until  the  snake  died; 
the  spider  had  raised  the  head  of  the  snake  from  the  floor 
slowly  but  surely  each  day,  and  when  that  work  was 
finished,  he  commenced  biting  the  snake  about  the  head, 
sufficiently  to  draw  the  blood,  which  could  be  seen  with 
a  glass.  Each  time  the  snake  was  speared  he  would 
spring  and  jump  so  as  to  stretch  the  web  several  inches.* 
I  traveled  fifty-two  miles  and  made  two  journeys  to  see 
this  most  wonderful  performance.  What  a  lesson  is 
taught  us  here  of  the  sagacity  and  ingenuity  of  a  little 
spider  conqueiing  the  reptile  of  many  hundred  times  its 
own  bulk.  Let  it  therefore  admonish  us  what  the  mind 
of  man  is  destined  to  accomplish,  and  what  it  must  do  to 
equal  the  knowledge  of  this  little  insect." 

Man  is  not  only  placed  at  one  end  of  this  great  chain, 
but  he  forms  the  hook  that  hangs  it  up  on  the  throne  of 
Jehovah,  and  the  swivel  and  pivot  also  upon  which  the' 
whole  turns;  and  it  extends  from  thence  to  the — yes,  be- 
yond the  surface  to  the  very  centre  of  the  earth  and  the 
bottomless  deep;  and,  notwithstanding  its  crooks  and 
nooks,  and  all  its  mysterious  windings,  there  is  a  current 
of  electric  life  running  through  the  whole  length  thereof 
that  proceeds  from  the  great  battery  from  which  all  know- 
ledge and  instinct  flows. 

Nor  does  the  mind  find  a  place  of  rest  here.     Botanists 
tell  us  that  plants  have  lungs,  and  nervous  systems.    We 


*The  horse,  too,  lives  in  fear  of  the  snake*,  you  can  not  ride  him  on 
to  one  of  them,  he  will  either  side  off,  back  away,  or  jnmp  over  them 
if  possible. 


224  avery's  own  farrier. 

know  they  have  the  means  of  circulating  their  fluids,  and 
they  may  have  the  sense  of  feeling  as  well.  Now  look 
at  the  little  so  called  sensitive  plant,  and  behold  the 
grandeur,  the  sublimity  and  the  wisdom  of  the  great 
Architect  of  the  Universe.  One  that  loves  to  dwell  on 
this  theme  may  follow  the  chain  down  until  he  finds 
some  animals  that  are  nearly  plants;  then  turn  to  the 
lovely  and  beautiful  plants  and  flowers,  and  he  can 
almost  see  animals  in  them;  or,  at  least,  he  csn  see  the 
arteries  through  which  the  circulating  fluid  flows  from 
its  mother  earth  to  the  notched  and  spiral  leaves  of  the 
smallest  plant,  and  the  veins  also  by  which  it  is  returned 
from  whence  it  came,  which  is  the  heart  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom  as  much  as  the  heart  of  animals  is  the  fountain 
head  of  the  circulating  fluid. 

Do  not  think  that  I  am  going  to  do  by  you  as  the  man 
did  who  bought  several  gallons  to  treat  the  crowd  with, 
and  then  kept  it  all  to  himself;  I  will  talk  about  the  horse 
directly. 

Man  stands  at  the  head  of  all  created  beings,  for  all  will 
tremble  and  crouch  with  fearai  his  approach,  except  when 
congregated  in  numbers,  or  driven  by  hunger,  or  when 
attacked  in  a  warlike  manner,  or  when  there  is  no  chance 
to  flee.  Then  if  man  is  placed  at  the  head  of  all  these, 
it  shows  the  importance  of  his  studying  his  own  nalure, 
and  if  he  arrives  at  the  highest  state  of  his  moral  culture 
to  which  he  is  attainable,  all  the  better,  so  as  not  to 
abuse  the  power  invested  in  him,  and  enable  him  to  turn 
all  these  things  to  the  best  and  most  profitable  account. 
What  then  has  man  to  fear  from  the  brute  creation 
when  he  becomes  acquainted  with  his  ability  to  govern 


avery's  own  farrier.  225 

and  control  them  all,  and  when  he  sees  the  most  fero- 
cious beasts  flee  at  his  approach?  As  I  stated  above, 
the  domeslicated  horse  loves  man,  and  I  very  much  doubt 
whether  there  is  another  creature  on  earth  that  is  so 
universally  beloved  by  man  as  the  horse.  They  look 
upon  him  as  their  friend,  and  when  in  trouble  will  run 
to  him  for  help  and  protection.  As  an  evidence  of  this 
fact  I  need  only  relate  one  circumstance  that  I  witnessed 
with  my  friend  and  neighbor,  Casler,  and  others.  I  had 
a  mare  that  owned  a  colt  about  a  week  old  running  in  a 
field  wherein  was  an  old  well  fourteen  feet  deep,  which 
had  been  covered  with  plank,  which  by  some  means  had 
got  off,  so  that  the  colt  fell  into  the  well.  This  happened 
about  the  break  of  day,  and  before  I  had  got  out  of  bed 
I  heard  the  noise  and  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs  which 
awoke  me.  This  was  followed  by  a  loud  neigh  of  a 
horse  at  my  door.  I  scrambled  out  of  bed  and  went  to 
the  door  just  in  time  to  see  the  old  mare  returning 
towards  the  well  that  was  some  forty  rods  distant.  See- 
ing her  look  down  into  the  well  and  then  start  for  the 
house  again,  I  anticipated  the  trouble  she  was  in.  I 
summoned  help  and  started  for  the  well,  but  not  without 
being  met  several  times  by  the  old  mare  (who  seemed  to 
be  almost  frantic)  as  if  to  hurry  us  on  to  the  place  of 
disaster.  When  we  arrived,  the  colt  was  splashing  in 
the  water  at  the  bottom.  We  immediately  got  him  out 
with  the  help  of  ropes  that  we  took  along  with  us,  when 
they  both  followed  us  back  to  the  house;  and  whenever 
we  stopped,  the  mare  would  stand  by  us,  and  even  lick 
our  hands,  as  well  as  the  colt,  in  thankfulness  for  the 
assistance  we  h;ul  rendered  her  in  rescuing  her  colt. 


226  avery's  own  farrier. 

But  to  return  more  direct  to  the  subject  in  question,  I 
will  proceed  to  show  what  man  should  be  to  accomplish 
his  purpose  with  the  horse,  and  then  by  what  means  he 
can  do  it.     The  timidity*  of  many  persons  only  prevents 
their  becoming  successful  horse  tamers  fuUy  equal  to  the 
great  Dampteurs  of  the  present  day.     It  requires  almost 
a   reckless   courage,  a  patience   that  never  tires,  and   a 
temper  that   nothing  can   ruffle.     With  these  requisites, 
any  one  may  enter  the  pleasing  labor  of  subjugating  and 
educating  the  horse  with  almost  a  certainty  of  success. 
All  men  are  not  endowed  with  this  gift;  though  any  one 
of  common  ability  who  studies  the  horse  minutely,  will 
soon  learn   by  his  quick  perception  and   judgment   to 
govern  the   horse,  notwithstanding  the  great   difference 
of  organization  and   temperament   that  belongs  to  this 
animal,  which  does  not  always  consist  in  a  uniform  plan 
of  operating  withall,  but  must  be  varied  according  to  their 
individual   capabilities    after  subdung    their    wild  fear. 
This  is  a  study  which,  if  pursued  systematically,  will  be 
one  of  the  most  ennobling,  as  well  as  profitable  branches 
of  the  industry  of  breeders  and   the  farmer's  occupation, 
for   it  will   enhance  their  horse's  value  at  least  one-half 
(in  some  cases)  by  rendering  them  more  docile  and  safe 
to  guide  and  handle.     In  a  word,  the  man  should  be  in 
every  respect  of  good  disposition,  and  the  law  of  kind- 
ness should   be  fixed  in  his  mind  as  the   keystone  of  all 
successful  theories  of  treatment  towards  the  horse.      And 
he   should    look  for  help  only  where  it    is   to  be   found. 

*  I  nni^ht  refer  here  to  the  daring  feats  accomplished  by  M.  Blon- 
din,  and  others,  to  show  what  man  is  capable  of  arriving  at  when 
destitute  of  fear. 


avery's  own  farrier.  227 

This  is  what  preserved  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den,  and  is 
what  may  save  many  people  the  great  trouble  they  meet 
with  in  endeavoring  to  manage  the  horse. 

How  it  is  done. — The  horse  is  to  be  taken  into  a  room 
or  close  stable,  so  that  his  attention  may  not  be  attracted 
by  surrounding  objects.     Then  the  man,  after  placing  a 
halter  or  bridle  on  him  to  hold  him  by,  with  his  power- 
ful, mental  and  physical  organization,  and    indomitable 
will,  proceeds  to  gaze  directly  in  the  eye  of  the  horse, 
which  will  most  assuredly  be  met  by  that  of  the  animal. 
After  standing  in  this  position  a  few  moments,  the  man 
gently  passes  his  hand  over  the  vertebrae  and  temples  of 
the  horse;    this  quiets    and  soothes  the    nerves  of  the 
head,  whatever  the  propensities  of  the  animal  may  be, 
being  careful  not  to  relinquish  his  gaze  at  any  time  while 
he  is  thus  caressing  him.     If  the  horse  is  too  vicious  for 
a  person  to  stand  with  safety  before  him,  he  can  have  a 
partition  between  them  for  his  safety.     There  is  a  certain 
tone  of  voice  also  to  be  used,  which  should  be  modulated 
according  to  the  temperament  of  the   animal,  so   as  to 
further  the  ends  sought  after.     Two  lessons   a  day,  say 
from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes  at  a  time,  are  sufficient;  and 
the  worst  of  horses  will  generally  yield  to  the  supremacy 
of  the  man  after  two  or  three  days'  trial,  and  become 
perfectly  docile  and  obedient.     You  may  call  this  mag- 
netism or  what  you  please.     "  The  light  of  the  body  is 
the  eye,  if,  therefore,  thine  eye  be  single,  thy  whole  body 
shall  be  full  of   light,"  Matthew,  vi,  22.     There  is  still 
another  way  which  expediency  sometimes  calls  for,  viz: 
After  proceeding  as  stated  above,  whether  your  horse  is 
in  harness  or  not,  if  he  does  not  yield,  pass  the  left  hand 


228  Avery's  own  farrier. 

over  the  face,  and  let  it  drop  suddenly  and  seize  him 
by  the  nose,  pinching  it  so  close  he  can  not  breath,  at 
the  same  time  grasping  the  left  ear  in  your  right  hand 
firmly,  not  losing  sight  of  his  eye. 

"  Nor  let  a  wave  of  trouble  roll, 
Across  your  fearless  breast," 
Lest  all  should  be  lost  but  soul, 
And  success  will  crown  the  rest. 

Now  you  hold  his  five  senses  (as  it  were)  within  your 
grasp,  which  are  all  the  same  both  in  the  most  haggard 
and  mean-looking  horse  that  draws  a  coal  cart,  and  in 
the  fiery  steed;  although  they  may  have  been  blunted 
by  hard  fare  and  ill-usage  in  the  one,  and  cultivated  by 
iind  treatment  and  skill  in  the  other.  The  nose  is 
closed  so  that  he  does  not  breathe,  consequently  he  does 
not  smell,  neither  can  he  taste.  You  obstruct  his  hear- 
ing by  holding  on  to  the  ear;  he  is  made  sensible  now 
of  the  touch  of  feeling  for  he  can  not  shake  you  off,  but, 
like  an  Indian  when  his  finger  is  in  your  mouth,  he  pulls 
steadily  back  after  the  first  struggle,  forgetting  he  has 
any  other  means  of  hurting  you.  Your  eye  is  master  of 
his,  for  he  sees  nothing  in  you  now  but  the  masterly 
courage  and  power  you  hold  over  him,  which  he  readily 
submits  to.  This  will  cow  the  ugliest  horse  you  ever 
saw;  he  is  completely  conquered  now,  and  all  you  have 
to  do  is  to  teach  him  that  you  wish  to  be  obeyed.  This 
is  all  the  coercion  that  need  to  be  used  to  subdue  the 
very  worst  of  horses.  To  learn  a  colt  to  back  well  is 
is  sometimes  the  most  difficult  thing  you  have  to  learn 
him,  which  can  be  done  eifectually  by  follow^ing  the 
above  plan,  having  a  second  person   behind   him  at  the 


avery's  own  farrier.  229 

same  time  to  pull  on  the  reins,  though  I  would  not  resort 
to  this  until  other  means  had  failed. 

To  test  this  theory,  let  two  men  (for  instance)  look- 
steadily  and  direct  into  each  other's  eyes,  with  the  full 
determination  of  each  to  outlook  the  other;  the  one  or 
the  other  must  soon  give  out  yielding  to  the  power  of  the 
other.  And  so  it  is  with  the  horse;  he  is  mentally- 
weaker  than  man  and  must  yield  to  his  superiority  when 
once  brought  in  contact  with  the  strong  battery  of  his 
mental  power,  for  this  is  a  sort  of  mental  war  between 
the  horse  and  his  master,  which  may  depend  in  a  greater 
or  less  degree  on  the  physical  strength  that  accompanies 
it.  This  war,  too,  may  be  considered  all  the  harder  for 
man  to  fight  on  account  of  the  energies  of  the  animal, 
the  whole  river  of  life  being  used  to  carry  his  own  mill. 
But  when  we  have  all  the  energies  attributable  to  the 
animal,  and  the  gift  of  reason  besides  to  help  guide  and 
direct,  then  there  must  be  a  misapplication  if  we  are  not 
the  victors.  If  there  is  any  doubt  remaining  with  any 
one  whether  the  horse  knows  the  difference  between 
good  and  ill-treatment,  you  spit  on  his  nose  and  see  how 
quick  he  will  resent  it,  by  throwing  up  his  head  and 
leering,  as  much  as  to  say,  you  may  get  bit,  or  I  will 
send  my  heels  at  you,  if  you  repeat  the  insult.  And  see 
that  he  does  not  remind  you  of  it  the  next  time  he  has 
an  opportunity.  He  loves  you  because  you  first  loved 
him.  When  and  wherever  this  principle  is  rightly  un- 
derstood, the  business  of  going  around  the  country  and 
obtaining  from  five  to  ten  dollars  a  piece  from  the  boys 
for  learning  them   how  to  choke  horses,  will    be  at   an 

end  as  it  should  be,  for  I  have  seen  several  valuable  horses 

20 


230  avery's  own  farrier. 

very  much  injured  in  this  way;  and  all  that  pretend  to 
know  anything  about  the  nature  of  the  horse,  will  con- 
sent that  the  law  of  kindness  is  the  true  principle  to  be 
adopted  in  the  subjugation  and  culture  of  the  animal.* 
Why  then  resort  to  the  most  barbarous  cruelty  that  can 
be  inflicted  on  him  to  commence  what  some  call  the  art 
of  taming? 

HARNESSING. 

The  manner  in  which  a  colt  is  to  be  first  harnessed  is 
of  some  importance,  and  should  be  done  with  care.     In 
the  first  place,  he  should  be  made  familiar  with  the  har- 
ness or   saddle,  by  letting  him   smell   and  touch  it  with 
his  nose,  as  well  as  to  see  it;  then  carry  it   around  him 
and  rub  it  against  him  until  he  becomes  satisfied  that  it 
is  nothing  that  will  hurl  him  before  you  attempt  to  throw 
it  on  him,  which  should  be  carefully  done  so  as   not  to 
scare  him  with  it.     The  harness    once    being  on  him,  it 
should   be  firmly  buckled,  but  not  too  tight;  the  collar 
shonld  be  a  good  fit;  you  may  then  proceed  to  pull  on 
the  traces,  bidding  him  to  pull  also,  and  practice  him  in 
this  way  until  he  finds  out  he  is  able  to  draw  you  around 
the  barn  or  yard.     Then  you  may  hitch  him  to  a  wagon 
or  light   load    at  first,  and   every  day  increase  the  load 
(never  loading  him  so  that  he   can  not  draw  the  load 
easily)  until   his   breast  gets  hardened   so   that   he  can 

*  The  peculiar  instinct  of  the  horse,  accounts  for  his  being  subdued 
in  80  many  different  ways,  by  those  that  did  not  understand  this 
principle — but  they  do  not  lay  him  at  their  feet  at  once  without 
coercion  or  drugging,  which  is  done  so  dexterously  as  not  to  be  de- 
tected by  those  present. 


avery's  own  farrier.  231 

draw  without  hurting  him.  The  colt  seldom  refuses  to 
pull  the  first  time  he  is  harnessed;  but  by  overloading  to 
see  how  much  he  can  draw  when  his  breast  is  tender,  he 
bruises  it  with  the  collar  by  drawing  too  hard,  making 
it  sore,  so  that  the  second  or  third  time  you  harness  him, 
he  refuses  to  pull  because  it  hurts  him  to  do  so,  and  then 
he  flinches  and  flies  back;  then,  according  to  the  old 
method  of  treatment,  he  must  be  flogged  into  it  or  he 
will  be  balky;  and  nine  to  one  if  he  does  not  form  habits 
in  this  way  that  he  never  forgets,  and  especially  when 
he  happens  to  be  placed  in  like  circumstances. 

There  is  more  truth  than  poetry  in   the  philosopher's 
remark,  that  a  colt  was  never  broken  only  on  one  side 
at  a  time.     For  you  may  first  break  him  to  have  the  har- 
ness laid  on  from^  the  near  or  left  side  without  fear  (as 
we  generally  do),  but  if  you   approach  him   with  it  on 
the  off  or  right  side,  he  is  as  shy  of  it  as  though  he  had 
never  been    harnessed.     For   this   reason    people  have 
sometimes  been  greatly  disappointed  in  trying  to  catch 
their  horse  in   the   pasture   by  going   up  to   him  on  the 
wrong  side,  and  when  they  thought  they  had  their  hand 
almost  on  him,  why,  he  was  gone,  and  then  comes  the 
chase.     Then  you  break  a  horse  to  step  into  the  thills 
from  the  near  side  to  your  liking,  and  he  knows  nothing 
about  going  in  from  the  off  side.     And  so  it  is  in  learn- 
ing him  to  take  his  place  on  either  side  of  the  pole,  or 
another  horse;  and   he  is  as   awkward  when  you  wish 
him  to  change  sides  as  though  he  had  never  seen  either. 
Therefore,    in  breaking  a  horse,    he   should    be  used  to 
having  the  harness  placed  over  him  from  either  side,  and 
be  learned  to  take  his  place  on  either  side  of  the  pole, 


232  Avery's  own  farrier. 

or  another  horse,  by  first  leading  him  to  his  place,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  telling  him  in  plain  words,  as  right  or 
left,  what  to  do,  and  he  soon  becomes  so  familiar  with 
the  words  that  he  is  ready  to  obey  them.  Afterwards 
his  eye  will  tell  him  to  do  what  his  ear  learned  him  be- 
fore. In  the  same  manner  the  ring  master  is  enabled  to 
change  the  routine  of  performance  in  the  ring  by  the 
use  of  words,  which  is  no  new  thing  in  the  nature  of  the 
horse  if  men  have  just  learned  that  he  is  capable  of  dis- 
tinguishing sounds.  Consequently  we  see  the  necessity 
of  educating  the  horse  with  a  knowledge  of  his  nature, 
for  he  can  not  in  truth  be  said  to  be  thoroughly  broken 
until  he  is  broken  on  both  sides. 

BLINDERS,  OR  BLINKERS, 

As  a  general  thing,  I  think  had  better  be  dispensed 
with,  though  there  are  some  arguments  in  favor  of  their 
use,  as  well  as  against  them.  They  may  afford  some 
protection  to  the  eye  when  a  horse  is  driven  in  severe 
storms,  for  when  he  is  at  liberty  he  is  always  seen  to 
shield  the  eye  from  the  pelting  storms,  by  turning  his 
rump  in  that  direction  from  which  it  beats  the  hardest; 
and  when  the  rays  of  a  hot  sun  are  too  oppressive  for  the 
eye,  he  is  frequently  seen  to  hold  the  head  in  the  shade 
of  his  own  body.  And  then  a  very  lazy  horse,  or  one  of 
poor  memory,  is  generally  freer  to  go  and  mind  when 
driven  with  blinders  on,  than  he  is  without.  For  this 
reason  he  is  more  apt  to  be  afraid  of  the  word  and  whip, 
which  is  prejudicial  to  the  better  horse.  The  noble 
spirited  and  well  educated  horse  should  have  the  free  use 
of  the  eye;  and  he  will  not  unfrequently   shun  dangers 


avery's  own  farrier.  233 

that  would  not  be  seen  by  man  in  time  to  avoid  them; 
therefore  such  a  horse  is  safer  when  driven  without  blinds 
than  with. 

As  we  are  all  liable  to  err,  I  doubt  not  but  that  I  have 
committed  some  errors  in  this  work  that  may  appear  to 
the  more  polished  minds  of  some,  but  what  I  ask  of  such 
is  to  place  them  all  in  the  dark  back  ground,  and  view 
thera  as  we  should  view  the  great  contrasts  there  are  in 
human  life,  and  then  see  if  they  can  not  discover  some 
bright  spots  in  the  picture  I  have  drawn,  standing  out  in 
bold  relief  that  are  pleasing,  profitable  and  useful  for 
man  to  possess. 


PART    II 


PHARMACOPCEA. 

In  giving  medicine,  much  must  necessarily  depend  on 
the  judgment  of  the  one  administering  it — as  to  quantity, 
and  the  time  of  giving,  &c.;  for  it  would  be  impossible 
to  lay  down  rules  that  would  be  adapted  to  all  cases. 
So  it  often  happens  that  you  should  vary  the  quantity, 
and  time  of  giving,  according  to  the  strength  of  the  ani- 
mal and  the  severity  of  the  case;  but  I  will  endeavor  to 
do  what  I  can  to  assist  you  in  this  respect,  first  saying, 
that  where  you  find  the  quantity  given,  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  medium  dose. 

I  will  say  one  thing  more,  that  is,  after  giving  any 
kind  of  medicine,  wait  a  sufficient  time  to  see  the 
operation  thereof,  before  trying  anything  else,  otherwise 
the  one  might  counteract  the  other,  or  act  in  conjunction 
with  it,  and  thereby  lessen  the  strength  of  the  patient 
beyond  what  would  be  necessary.  Therefore,  it  is  best 
not  to  be  hasty  in  matters  of  this  kind. 

A  tablespoonfull  is  supposed  to  be  equal  to  half  an 
ounce,  or  four  drachms,  yet  many  of  the  modern  spoons 


avery's  own  farrier.    *  235 

will  contain  five  drachms;  a  teaspoonfull  will  equal 
about  seventy  drops,  a  drop  will  contain  a  quantity  pro- 
portioned to  the  size  of  the  vial  from  which  it  falls,  a 
common  ounce  vial  is  a  medium  size;  one-third  of  a 
teaspoonfull  will  be  one  scruple,  or  twenty  grains  in 
weight.  What  would  be  a  dose  for  a  man,  may  be  in- 
creased as  much  as  the  food  of  the  horse  exceeds  that  of 
man,  in  many  cases.  Better  give  too  little  than  too 
much. 

By  decoction,  I  mean  the  boiling  of  herbs  or  other 
substances,  and  where  a  large  quantity  of  water  is  re- 
quired for  this  purpose,  after  boiling  a  sutficient  time 
to  obtain  the  strength  thereof;  strain  and  boil  down  if 
the  object  is  to  use  it  as  a  salve — though  long  continued 
boiling  is  liable  to  lessen  the  active  matter  therein  con- 
tained, if  used  as  a  wash. 

By  teas  and  infusions,  I  mean  simply  the  steeping  of 
articles  in  hot  Writer — not  boiling  them. 

Tinctures  are  made  by  imbuing  the  articles,  or  sub- 
stance, in  alcohol,  from  seven  to  fourteen  days. 

Volatile  Oils  are  made  by  throwing  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  water  on  the  substance  to  be  acted  upon,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  volatile  spirit  from  flying  off  during  distillation. 
After  maceration  for  a  proper  length  of  time,  distil,  and 
separate  the  oil  from  the  water;  as  it  may  be  lighter 
than  the  water  and  swim  on  the  surface,  or  heavier  and 
sink  to  the  bottom.  So,  according  to  this  method,  the 
oils  of  anise,  wormwood,  peppermint,  origanum,  rose- 
mary and  sassafras  are  prepared.  And  then  by  adding 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  alcohol,  to  cut  the  oil,  we  have 
the  essence.  . 


236  avery's  own  farrier. 

Now,  let  us  talk  about  the  horse  a  little.  Everything 
that  is  digested  in  the  stomach,  goes  to  help  form  blood; 
anything  that  is  not  digested,  acts  more  directly  on  the 
kidneys  and  urine,  or  passes  off  with  the  evacuations  of 
the  bowels,  or  through  the  pores  of  the  skin;  for  these 
are  the  principal  outlets  of  all  food  and  medicine  taken 
into  the  bowels,  except  what  is  absorbed  in  the  growth 
and  support  of  nature.  Hence  those  oils,  balsams,  and 
articles  used  for  urinary  difficulties,  are  among  the  things 
not  so  easily  digested. 

When  the  horse  is  (or  appears)  quite  sick — if  his 
appetite  is  not  much  impaired,  his  bowels  move  regu- 
larly and  healthy,  he  urinates  well,  and  his  skin  feels 
soft  and  looks  glossy — he  can  not  be  seriously  ill,  except 
from  some  local  difficulty,  and  this  can  not  be  of  long 
continuance  without  affecting  some  of  the  above  named 
functions.  Some  people  talk  a  great  deal  about  doctor- 
ing the  blood,  but  if  a  horse  is  ill  in  any  way,  these 
things  should  be  first  looked  into;  and,  when  properly 
attended  to,  the  blood  will  take  care  of  itself,  and  other 
things  will  be  found  of  minor  importance.  If  a  horse  is 
diseased,  treat  him  accordingly,  but  do  not  (because  you 
have  learned  how  to  treat  a  few  complaints)  be  con- 
tinually dosing  him  with  medicine  that  he  does  not 
need,  and  the  effect  of  which  you  do  not  know  on  the 
system. 

The  Thorax  is  that  part  of  the  body  from  the  mouth 
(or  throat  rather),  quite  back  to  the  midriff  or  diaphragm, 
containing  the  heart  and  lungs.  That  part  back  of  the 
midriff    is   called    abdomen;    containing   the    intestinal 


avery's  own  farrier.  237 

canal,  &c.  The  upper  part  of  the  wind-pipe  is  called 
the  larynx;  the  lower  part,  the  trachea. 

Acute,  and  sometimes  chronic,  or  slow  lingering  in- 
flammation of  the  larynx,  takes  place;  it  is  generally 
brought  on  by  hard  colds,  though  sometimes  it  is  caused 
by  eating  too  early  mown  or  dusty  hay,  the  pollen  from 
the  flowers  of  which  consists  of  a  very  fine  flour,  very 
irritative  to  this  part  of  the  thorax,  which  is  particularly 
sensitive.  ^This  difficulty  is  frequently  taken  by  many 
for  lung  fever,  the  heaves,  &c. ;  but  is  unlike  either,  ex- 
cept in  difficult  breathing,  as  drawing  in  of  the  sides 
with  a  long  breath.  It  is  attended  with  some  fever, 
quick  pulse  and  costiveness;  the  breathing  becomes  more 
and  more  difficult,  and,  unless  relief  is  found,  the  horse 
dies  from  actual  suffocation.  This  disease  will  warrant 
heavy  bleeding,  and  treat  as  you  would  for  distempers, 
with  a  free  use  of  the  condition  powders  No.  1,  herein- 
after mentioned. 

Death  beginning  at  the  Lungs. — As  in  suffocation,  the 
circulation  and  the  organic  functions  cease;  the  animal 
is  said  to  be  alive  so  long  as  any  of  the  organic  func- 
tions are  going  on.  The  heart  continues  to  act  after 
respiration  has  ceased;  the  ventricle  of  the  heart  con- 
tinues to  propel  the  blood  to  all"*parts  of  the  body,  but 
the  blood  is  now  incapable  of  supporting  life,  and  a  few 
waves  to  the  brain  destroys  its  functions,  and  the  blood 
from  want  of  aeration  in  the  lungs,  destroys  the  action 
of  the  heart  itself,  and  every  part  through  which  it  cir- 
culates; but  at  what  particular  time  they  become  insensi- 
ble to  pain,  must  for  all  time  to  come  remain  unknown. 


238  avery's  own  farrier. 

Death  beginning  at  the  Brain. — "  In  this  the  func- 
tions of  the  brain  (voluntary  motion)  cease  first;  respira- 
tion next  fails.  Sudden  deaths,  beginning  at  the  brain, 
occur  in  the  case  of  severe  injury  to  the  head,  epileptic 
fits  (blind  staggers),  and  the  taking  of  narcotics  and 
other  poisons." 

Death  beginning  at  the  Heart. — "  Here  the  order  is 
reversed,  the  pulsations  of  the  heart  are  first  stopped,  and 
as  the  brain  is  not  supplied  with  the  stimulgs  of  blood, 
voluntary  motion  gradually  fails.  Breathing,  in  this 
case,  is  the  last  act  of  life.  Sudden  deaths  beginning  at 
the  heart,  occur  from  poison,  diseases  aflfecting  the  heart, 
&c." 

Death  by  causes  acting  upon  the  system  gemrally. — 
"  Hemorrhage  produces  death  by  its  effects  upon  the 
whole  system,  and  not  by  its  suddenly  checking  the 
heart's  action;  for  the  heart  continues  to  act  after  all 
supply  to  it  is  cut  off.  In  death  from  arsenic,  lightning, 
and  by  compressions  made  on  the  brain  and  spinal  mar- 
row, vitality  in  all  the  animal  economy  ceases  at  once." 

POISONS. 

May  enter  the  body  in  different  ways — with  the  food, 
through  the  anus  by'clysters,  through  the  nostrils  and 
lungs  with  the  air,  through  the  absorbents  of  the  skin, 
either  whole,  ulcerated,  cut  or  torn.  Poisoned  wounds 
may  be  made  by  the  stings  of  bees,  wasps,  hornets,  and 
the  bite  of  animals,  as  dogs,  snakes,  &c. 

Antidotes  for  Poisons. — Stings  are  to  be  treated  by  the 
application  of  cold  water,  clay  and  vinegar,  and  opodel- 


Avery's  own  farrier.  239 

doc.  If  there  is  much  swelliiig,  bleeding  and  a  dose  of 
salts  wi]]  be  useful.  For  bites  of  animals,  apply  to  the 
wound  a  poultice  of  pumiced  onions,  or  quick  lime  and 
oil;  after  which  dress  with  the  fresh  juice  of  the  common 
plaintain.  Where  mineral  poisons  has  been  taken  into 
the  stomach,  give  (c«s  soon  as  possible)  freely  of  lime 
water,  this  sheathes  the  stomach  against  its  action  on  it, 
then  give  honey,  chalk,  or  sugar  in  water,  with  a  view 
to  dilute  the  poison  if  possible — but  do  not  give  physic 
immediately,  for  it  will  carry  the  whole  poison  into  the 
bowels  and  certainly  produce  death.  Camphor  is  an  an- 
tidote for  strychnine.  When  any  of  the  alkalies  have 
been  taken  in  sufficient  quantities  to  prove  disastrous, 
vinegar  is  the  proper  antidote;  it  must  be  given  in  large 
quantities,  it  neutralizes  the  alkali.  When  any  of  the 
strong  acids  have  been  taken,  the  reverse  of  the  above 
is  the  treatment  to  be  used.  But  if  the  animal  should  be 
troubled  with  very  difficult  breathing  and  irregular  pulse, 
give  often  of  calcined  magnesia  in  water,  if  this  is  not 
to  be  had,  give  soft  soap,  soda,  or  chalk  in  water. 

Condition  Powder  JS^o.  1. — The  superfine  flour  of 
slippery  elm  bark  (ulraas  fulva)  is  what  I  use  as  the 
basis  of  these  powders;  this  of  itself  is  good  in  most 
diseases  and  harmless  in  health,  viz:  it  is  good  in  fevers, 
and  in  inflammations  of  all  kinds.  It  lubricates  the 
urinary  passages  in  difficulties  of  that  kind.  It  is  good 
in  cases  of  colds  and  coughs,  by  loosening  the  phlegm, 
and  allaying  inflammation  in  the  larynx  and  trachea; 
it  also  acts  as  a  diaphoretic.  To  one  pound  of  the  above, 
add  nearly  one-fourth  of  flour  of  sulphur;  it  is  by  a  con- 


240  avery's  own  farrier. 

tinued  use  of  the  sulphur,  in  small  doses,  that  its  benefit 
is  derived;  this  may  be  sweetened  with  pulverized  sugar 
and  scented  with  anise,  to  render  it  more  pleasant  and 
palatable;  then  a  little  mustard,  ginger,  or  cayenne 
may  be  added,  to  whet  the  appetite,  &c.  Dose,  a  table- 
spoonfull  once  a  day,  except  in  urgent  cases  twice  a  day. 
And  you  may  add  to  these  powders,  any  other  ingredient 
that  you  th>nk  will  be  beneficial,  according  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  animal.  You  will  find  them  to  answer  a 
much  better  purpose  than  those  you  buy  at  the  shops,  and 
will  not  cost  you  half  as  much. 

Heave  Powders. — May  be  made  the  same  as  the  con- 
dition powders,  by  only  adding  one-fourth  as  much  as 
you  do  of  the  sulphur  of  pulverized  lobelia  seed  (inflata), 
the  dose  to  be  divided  and  given  morning  and  evening; 
or  what  will  be  still  better,  is  to  work  it  up  into  a  ball, 
with  honey  or  balsam  of  fir,  and  give  it  in  that  way. 
This,  with  frequent  drinks,  made  by  infusing  the  Irish 
moss  in  water  and  sweetened  with  loaf  sugar,  will  be 
attended  with  the  best  success  in  heaves.  This  is  an 
excellent  drink  in  all  kinds  of  coughs,  &c. 

Tobacco,  is  a  cathartic,  diuretic,  narcotic,  and  anti- 
spasmodic. Five  or  six  large  spoonsfull  of  strong  infu- 
sion of  tobacco,  mixed  with  a  quart  of  gruel,  and  used 
as  an  injection,  will  afford  relief  in  violent  colics  — 
sometimes  when  the  bowels  can  not  be  moved  by  any  other 
physic.  The  smoke  of  this  weed  is  also  very  good  for 
a  like  purpose,  by  being  injected,  and  also  for  dispelling 
wind,  &c. 

^  Salve,  made  by  boiling  the  inner  bark  of  the  dog 


avery's  own  farrier.  241 

acne,  and  the  bark  of  the  bittersweet  root  (Dulcamarse) 
together;  after  boiling  sufficiently,  strain,  and  simmer 
down  with  hog's  lard.  It  is  a  very  soothing  and  healing 
salve  for  wounds  or  bruises,  made  by  kicks,  &c. ;  and 
W'hen  the  wound  is  much  swollen  or  inflamed,  the  infu- 
sion of  tobacco  may  be  added  to  advantage. 

By  Diuretics  are  meant  those  medicines  which  increase 
the  discharge  of  urine;  for  this  purpose  spirits  of  nitre 
may  be  given,  from  half  to  one  ounce  for  a  dose,  for 
once  or  twice,  but  when  continued  it  is  liable  to  produce 
inflammation  of  the  urinary  organs.  Broom  corn  tops 
or  seed,  boiled  in  water,  and  given  freely,  prove  an  ex- 
cellent diuretic;  and  also  boughs  or  balsam  of  fir. 

Diuretic  or  Urine  Balls — Are  made  as  follows:  hard 
soap,  common  turpentine,  balsam  of  fir,  each  four  drachms, 
oil  of  juniper,  twenty  drops,  powdered  rosin  to  form  a 
ball.  For  dropsy  or  water-farcy,  add  to  the  above  all- 
spice and  ginger,  each  two  drachms;  make  four  balls, 
and  give  one  morning  and  evening  until  it  has  the  de- 
sired effect. 

Diaphoretics — Are  those  medicines  that  increase  the 
natural  exhalation  by  the  skin;  that  is,  they  produce  per- 
spiration or  sweating.  Thoroughwort  (Eupatorium  per- 
foliatum),  boneset.  crosswort,  thoroughstem  or  Indian 
sage,  hemlock,  sassafras,  ginger,  and  cayenne  pepper,  with 
many  other  things  act  as  a  diaphoretic. 

Expectorants. — These  are  medicines  which  facilitate 
the  rejection  of  mucus,  phlegm,  or  other  fluids,  from  the 
throat,  trachea  and  lungs.  For  this  purpose  the  follow- 
ing will  be  found  beneficial,  viz:  the  slippery  elm  tea, 

which  may  be  made  by  throwing  two  tablespoonsfull  of 

21 


242  avery's  own  farrier. 

the  flour  into  one  quart  of  water,  and  sweeten  with  mo- 
lasses; stir  well  and  it  will  form  a  thick  jelly.  The  Irish 
moss,  also  prepared  in  a  similar  manner,  the  onion  juice, 
which  can  be  obtained  by  boiling  them  in  pot  liquor,  or 
by  frying  them  in  goose  oil,  are  good  to  loosen  the 
phlegm  and  help  a  cough.  Sweating  the  head  and  throat 
is  also  useful  in  loosening  the  phlegm,  and  creating  a 
discharge  at  the  nostrils,  in  severe  colds,  &c.,  for  which 
the  black  sheep's  wool  is  excellent  to  bind  on  the  head 
and  neck;  then  steam  the  head  over  scalding  hot  bran, 
or  by  turning  vinegar  on  a  hot  stone  under  the  nose. 
The  black  wool  is  thought  to  be  preferable  to  any  other 
for  this  purpose. 

Anthelmintics — Are  remedies  that  expel  worms  from  the 
intestines.  Alum  is  the  only  thing  necessary  to  be  used 
for  this  purpose,  with  the  horse.  When  this  is  not  to  be 
obtained,  tobacco  may  be  used  sparingly  in  lieu  thereof, 
with  plenty  of  sage  tea. 

Refrigerents — Are  to  cool  and  diminish  the  force  of 
circulation,  and  reduce  the  heat  of  the  body  without 
diminution  of  vital  energy.  Lemon  juice,  diluted  with 
water,  with  or  without  being  sweetened  (lemonade),  in 
the  hot  stages  of  fever  is  very  good;  and  a  tea  made  by 
infusing  the  bee  balm  may  be  used  profitably,  and  also 
spearmint;  but  when  a  horse  has  been  overheated,  by 
being  driven  too  hard,  give  him  something  to  increase 
the  inward  heat,  and  rub  him  with  a  brush  until  he  is 
quite  dry. 

Demulcents — Are  used  to  prevent  acrid  matter  from 
acting  on  the  sensible  parts.  Flax  seed,  by  infusion, 
yields  a  large  quantity  of  mucilage,  and  is  in  common 


avery's  own  farrier.  243 

use  given  internally,  or  in  the  form  of  poultices  for  sores, 
&c.;  but  for  an  outward  application  of  this  kind,  the 
poultice  made  of  charcoal  and  yeast  is  to  be  preferred. 
The  marsh  mallow,  liquorice  root,  or  ball,  arrow-root,  or 
herb,  also  yield  mucilage,  and  are  good  in  cases  of  ca- 
tarrh or  purging,  and  in  fevers,  &c.;  prepared  by  infu- 
sion. 

Lithontriptics — Are  supposed  to  have  the  power  of 
dissolving  urinary  calculi  (gravel  or  stone  in  the  bladder 
or  intestines);  for  this  you  may  slice  the  common  red 
beet  into  old  cider,  and  after  letting  it  stand  a  w^eek, 
give  a  pint  twice  a  day.  This  will  dissolve  a  stone  that 
has  been  taken  out,  and  has  been  given  with  the  best  of 
results;  as  much  of  its  active  matter  must  necessarily  be 
absorbed  by  giving  it,  before  it  reaches  the  bladder,  why 
not  inject  it  through  a  hollow  bougie  into  the  bladder 
occasionally,  that  it  might  prove  more  successful.  But 
if  I  had  a  horse  in  this  dreadful  situation,  I  would  first 
obtain  a  botlle  of  Tilden  &  Co.'s  (N.  Y.)  Fluid  Extract 
of  Hydrangia  (Arborescens),  and  divide  into  six  doses, 
and  give  two  or  three  a  day,  and  wait  the  result.  I  know 
it  has  done  wonders  for  the  human  in  this  respect,  and  I 
know  of  no  good  reason  why  it  would  not  for  the  horse 
under,  like  circumstances.  Some  might  despair  of  ever 
trying  to  relieve  the  horse  in  this  critical  situation,  but 
they  should  know  that  this  calculi  is  oftener  found  in  the 
intestines  of  the  horse  than  anywhere  else. 

Preventive  of' Calculi. — The  greatest  we  can  use  for 
this  difficulty  is  to  keep  the  digestive  organs  in  a  healthy 
state;  for  these  calculi  are  found  to  contain  phosphate  of 
lime  and  other  substances  which  are  contained  in  their 


244  avery's  own  faerier 

food,  and  which,  when  properly  digested,  go  lo  the  sup- 
port and  growth  of  bone,  but  when  not  thoroughly 
digested  go  into  the  urinary  organs,  and  there  form  gravel 
and  stone.  Hence  we  see  the  evil  consequences  arising 
from  too  strong  or  oft  repeated  diuretics,  which  excite 
those  organs  so  as  to  secrete  an  undue  amount  of  the 
fluids  that  would  otherwise  go  to  help  form  the  blood 
and  bone  of  the  animal. 

Erhines — Are  substances  which  occasion  a  discharge  at 
the  nostrils.  Any  substance  in  fine  powder  blown  up  the 
nostril  has  this  effect,  and  it  is  more  or  less  in  proportion 
to  the  stimulating  nature  of  the  substance  used;  they  are 
sometimes  used  in  colds  and  inflammation  of  the  eye.  &c. 
Snuff,  cayenne  and  hartshorn  are  used  for  this  purpose. 
JHunif  burnt  or  dried,  is  used  sometimes  to  destroy  fun- 
gus (proud-flesh),  and,  when  mixed  with  honey,  it  may 
be  employed  in  taking  off  specks,  or  film  from  the  eye,  to 
advantage.  Onions^  halved  and  scraped  under  the  nostril, 
are  excellent  to  loosen,  and  create  a  discharge  at  the 
nose,  in  colds,  catarrh,  &c. 

Tallies — Are  understood  to  Strengthen  and  invigorate 
the  system. 

Astringents — Are  such  substances  as  when  applied  to 
the  animal  body  produce  contraction  and  condensation  in 
the  soft  parts,  and  thereby  increase  density  and  cohesion; 
that  is,  they  pucker  the  parts  to  which  they  are  applied. 
A  decoction  of  the  oak  ba.k,  and  alum,  hemlock,  &c., 
are  powerful  astringents;  catechu  is  also  used  for  this 
purpose  But  perhaps  the  most  powerful  one  known  to 
be  used  (as  an  outward  application),  is  the  tonic  acid, 
which  is  to  be  first  cut  with   alcohol,  when   it  is   fit  for 


avery's  own  farrier.  245 

use.     This  acid  is  obtained  from  several  kinds  of  barks 
and  vegetables. 

Relaxing,  is  to  reverse  the  order  of  astringents ;  that 
is,  to  loosen,  stretch,  or  to  become  flabby.  Tansy  (Tan- 
acetum  vulgare),  an  infusion  of  this  made  and  given 
in  large  doses,  will  relieve  the  animal  of  ague  or  lung 
fever,  if  given  while  the  chill  is  on;  boneset  is  also  good 
for  a  like  purpose.  Skunk  cabbage  (faetida),  and 
the  wild  turnip  are  expectorants,  and  anti-spasmodic;  the 
seeds  and  roots  are  excellent  in  coughs  and  colic.  But, 
as  a  powerful  laxative,  the  tobacco  stands  high  on  the 
list,  given  inwardly  or  for  an  outward  application,  in 
the  vegetable  kingdom. 

Spirits  of  Turpentine,  applied  externally,  is  a  stimu- 
lant and  irritant. 

Egg  Shells,  scorched  brown  in  an  oven,  then  pulver- 
ized fine  and  worked  into  a  ball  with  honey,  and  given 
to  the  horse,  are  good  to  restore  or  assist  digestion,  when 
these  organs  have  been  impaired  by  fever  or  other  dis- 
ease. When  the  horse  has  been  nauseated,  is  faint  and 
drooping  from  any  cause,  add  to  the  above  ball  equal 
parts  of  camphor  gum  and  hartshorn  and  give  him,  and 
he  wiW  revive  with  wonderful  rapidity.  The  shells  are 
to  the  horse  what  gravel  is  to  the  fowl;  they  assist  di- 
gestion. 

Goose  oil  and  brandy,  about  equal  parts,  makes  a 
good  application  for  spavins,  ringbones,  callouses,  &c. 

Dog^s  oil  \s  a  very  good  application  to  limber  up  old 
stiff  joints,  and  to  heal  bad  wounds  in  the  flesh. 

The  whites  of  four  or  five  hen's  eggs,   beat   up   in  a 


246  avery's  own  farrier. 

gill  of  good  brandy,  and  applied  to  weak  knees  will 
prove  beneficial  to  them. 

When  you  wish  to  scatter  a  swelling  or  tumor,  take 
the  yolks  of  hen's  eggs,  with  an  equal  part  of  honey, 
beat  them  well  together,  thicken  with  wheat  flour  so  as 
to  form  a  thick  paste,  and  bind  it  on  the  swollen  parts. 

A  drench  to  increase  the  appetite  and  purify  the  sys- 
tem.— Take  mustard,  wild  cherry  bark  and  horse-radish, 
equal  parts,  with  half  the  quantity  of  one  of  burdock 
root  (Lappi),  the  whole  to  be  soaked  several  days  in  old 
cider;  then  strain  and  give  a  pint  of  the  cider  at  a  time, 
every  other  day  for  a  week,  or  as  the  case  may  require. 

A  good  Liniment. — Take  one  pint  of  spirits  of  wine 
(or  alcohol),  add  one  ounce  each  of  gum  myrrh  and  gum 
camphor,  and  one  ounce  of  the  oil  origanum,  and  to  the 
above  add  half  an  ounce  of  sal  ammoniac  (which  must 
first  be  pulverized  and  dissolved  in  water,  as  it  is  soluble 
only  in  water).  This  makes  a  very  strengthening  lini- 
ment, and  a  valuable  one  to  keep  in  the  stable. 

Hot  Drops. — Take  one  gallon  of  good  brandy  (or  high 
wines),  one  pound  of  gum  myrrh,  well  pulverized,  two 
ounces  of  cayenne  pepper,  and  an  ounce  of  camphor  gum. 
Put  the  whole  in  a  stone  jug,  boil  five  minutes,  by 
placing  the  jug,  unstopped,  in  a  kettle  of  boiling  water, 
or  let  it  stand  five  or  six  days  in  the  jug  without  boiling, 
only  shake  it  well  every  day,  when  it  will  be  fit  for  use. 
This,  given  internally,  is  good  for  colds,  or  inflammation 
of  any  kind,  as  it  prevents  mortification  taking  place. 
Applied  externally,  is  good  for  tetanus,  sores  and  wounds 
of  all  kinds,  and  is  an  excellent  remedy  for  swelled  legs, 


avery's  own  farrier.  247 

or  paralysis,  &c.     Dose,  from  half  to  one  gill  at  a  time, 
in  one  pint  of  water. 

Composition  Powders  for  Colds,  Sfc — Take  two  pounds 
of  bayberry  root  bark,  one  pound  of  ginger  root,  two 
ounces  each  of  cayenne  and  cloves,  all  to  be  pounded 
fine  and  sifted.  Give  for  a  dose,  two  lablespoonsfuU  of 
this  powder,  in  a  pint  of  water,  after  letting  it  steep  a 
few  minutes,  sweeten  with  sugar  or  molasses,  as  you  like, 
give  it  every  two  hours.  This  will  be  effectual  in  rais- 
ing the  inward  heat,  and  thus  drive  out  the  cold. 

Physic  Ball  for  Horses. — Take  cape,  or  Barbadoes 
aloes,  from  six  to  ten  drachms,  castile  soap,  one  drachm, 
spirits  of  wine,  one  drachm,  syrup  of  any  kind  to  form 
a  ball.  This  is  a  reliable  ball  for  the  above  purpose;  as 
also  one  quart  of  the  decoction  of  the  butternut  bark 
(juglandis).  Previous  to  physicing  a  horse,  and  during 
its  operation,  he  should  be  fed  on  bran  mashes,  allowed 
chilled  water,  and  have  plenty  of  exercise;  physic  is  use- 
ful and  necessary  in  most  diseases  —  it  improves  diges- 
tion and  gives  strength  to  the  lacteals  by  cleansing  the 
intestines  and  unloading  the  liver,  and  when  properly  fed 
afterwards,  will  improve  the  horse  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree. Physic,  except  in  urgent  cases,  should  be  given 
in  the  morning  and  upon  an  empty  stomach,  and  if  re- 
quired to  be  repeated,  a  week  should  intervene  between 
each  dose. 

Alterative,  or  Condition  Powder. — Alteratives  are 
medicines  that  are  supposed  to  have  a  slow  but  beneficial 
effect  in  altering  some  diseased  actions  of  the  vessels  of 
the  skin,  or  the  organs  of  circulation,  or  digestion;  good 


248  avery's  own  farrier. 

to  be  given  in  mange,  surfeit,  &c.  Rosin,  nitre,  and  flour 
of  sulphur,  each  two  ounces;  levigated  antimony,  one 
ounce.  This  will  be  sufficient  for  twenty  doses;  give  one 
every  morning,  or  mgrning  and  evening  as  the  case  may 
require. 

Cordial  J  or  InvigoraHng  Ball. — Powdered  camphor, 
one  drachm,  powdered  ginger,  two  drachms,  allspice 
powdered,  three  drachms,  caraway  seed,  powdered,  four 
drachms;  ir.ake  into  balls  with  syrup,  or  give  as  a  drench 
in  gruel. 

Fever  Ball. — Cape  aloes,  two  ounces,  nitre  four 
ounces,  molasses  to  form  a  mass;  divide  into  twelve 
bal's,  and  give  one  morning  and  evening,  or  give  it  in 
bee  balm,  or  spearmint  tea  as  a  drench,  until  the  bowels 
are  relaxed. 

Fever  Powder. — Nitre,  camphor  and  ginger,  each  one 
drachm,  powdered  and  mixed — to  be  used  after  the 
bowels  have  been  opened. 

Astringent  Drench. — Tincture  of  opium  half  an 
ounce,  ginger  one  drachm,  wheat  flour  one  ounce;  give 
in  a  pint  or  more  of  tea  made  by  steeping  the  bark  of 
the  mountain  ash  (Alkanoke),  repeat  if  necessary. 

Temporary  Lifting. — When  you  wish  your  horse  to 
prick  up  his  ears,  and  carry  a  good  tail,  and  show  oif  to 
good  advantage  for  a  brief  period,  take  a  piece  of  gin- 
ger root,  about  half  an  inch  in  length,  scraped  or  split 
off,  wet  with  spittle,  and  tuck  it  up  the  anus,  a  finger's 
length  or  so,  just  before  you  start  off;  used  occasionally 
is  rather  beneficial  than  otherwise — keep  shady,  of 
course. 

Anodyne    Ball. — Has   the   effect    to   mitigate    pain; 


Avery's  own  farrier.  249 

opium,  ginger,  one  drachm  each,  and  camphor  gum  two 
drachms,  pulverised  and  worked  into  a  ball  with  syrup, 
makes  a  useful  ball  for  this  purpose^  and  for  purging  or 
looseness  of  the  bowels. 

Opodeldoc. — Take  of  the  best  hard  soap  two  ounces, 
camphor  one  ounce,  strong  spirits  one  pint;  mix  the  soap 
with  the  spirits,  and  let  them  stand  in  a  moderate  heat, 
until  the  soap  is  dissolved,  occasionally  shaking  it;  then 
add  the  camphor,  and  continue  shaking  until  the  w^hole 
is  dissolved;  useful  in  saddle  and  girth  galls,  sprains, 
bruises,  and  to  disperse  swellings,  &c. 

Liquid  Opodildoc. — Take  four  ounces  of  spirits  of 
camphor,  one  ounce  of  laudanum,  one  ounce  of  aqua 
ammonia,  mix  all  together  and  keep  closely  corked;  this 
is  equal  to  the  first  for  any  or  all  of  the  above  purposes. 

Sumach. — As  a  temporary  relief  for  heaves,  irritated 
larynx,  or  trachea,  the  blossoms  or  boles  of  the  sumach, 
or  shoemake,  picked  fine  or  powdered,  and  fed  to  the 
horse  in  his  grain,  are  useful  sometimes,  owing  to  its 
soothing  and  souring  qualities. 

Oil  of  SpiJce. — Should  you  have  occasion  to  use  this 
article,  which  is  in  high  repute  by  some,  it  is  made  thus: 
by  mixing  about  equal  parts  of  spirits  of  turpentine  and 
common  tar  together,  and  well  shaking,  though  it  is  said 
to  be  made  from  a  certain  berry,  which  it  seldom  if  ever 
sees  (spikenard  and  bay  berry). 

Hoof  Liniment. — For  a  common  cleap  liniment,  for 
hard  hoofs,  take  equal  parts  of  spirits  of  turpentine  and 
hogs  lard,  and  mix  them;  for  sor^s  or  swellings,  add 
camphor  gum  and  hartshorn,  if  you  like. 

Another  AUringent  Drench — cheap  and  reliable;  take 


250  avery's  own  farrier. 

one  gill  of  wheat  flour,  tie  it  up  in  a  linen  ragj  boil  it  in 
water  two  hours,  when  it  will  become  quite  hard;  then 
scald  two  quarts  of  skimmed  milk,  and  grate  the  flour  off 
into  the  milk,  stir,  and  when  sufficiently  cool,  will  be  fit 
for  use. 

MALLENDERS  AND  SALLENDERS  (goUT). 

The  former  of  these  are  a  scurvy  eruption,  breaking 
out  of  the  back  part  of  the  fore  leg,  at  the  bend  of  the 
knee.  The  latter  is  the  same,  only  confined  by  the  hock 
of  the  hind  leg.  Gross  habit,  feeding,  want  of  exercise, 
and  cleanliness,  is  the  cause  of  this  difficulty. 

Cu7'e. — Give  a  little  rosin  and  burdock  root,  powdered, 
daily  in  their  food;  keep  them  clean,  with  sufficient  ex- 
ercise, and  merely  rub  the  parts  affected  with  hot  drops, 
two  or  three  days  in  succession,  is  all  that  will  be  neces- 
sary to  effect  a  cure.  The  same  treatment  is  also  bene- 
ficial in  grease  heels  or  swelled  legs. 

Mange  Ointment. — Powdered  aloes  two  drachms,  sul- 
phur four  ounces,  lard  or  oil  six  ounces;  mix  these  well, 
and  rub  it  on  with  the  hand  or  brush  well  into  the  hair, 
on  the  parts  affected. 

Lotion  for  Strains  and  Tumors. — Nitre  and  muriate 
of  ammonia  each  one  ounce;  dissolve  in  a  quart  of  hot 
water,  and  add  two  quarts  of  vinegar.  Bathe  the  parts 
affected  frequently. 

Etnhrocation  for  Strains,  4'c. — Olive  oil  six  ounces, 
aqua  ammonia  two  ounces,  spirits  of  turpentine  one 
ounce,  origanum  oil  two  drachms;  shake  the  bottle  well 
before  using,  rub  the  parts  twice  a  day. until  it  becomes 
hot  and  tender,  and  observe  rest. 


avery's  own  farrier.  251 

firing  and  blistering. 

Firing  consists  in  the  application  of  a  red  hot  iron  to 
the  skin,  but  should  never  be  used  so  as  to  reach  throup^h 
the  skin.  The  violent  inflammation  thus  occasioned, 
rouses  the  absorbents  into  action,  to  that  extent,  that 
callous  and  bony  swellings  may  sometimes  be  removed 
by  it.  Before  the  iron  is  used,  the  hair  should  be  shaved 
from  the  part  intended  to  be  fired.  And  after  the  opera- 
tion is  over,  the  part  fired  should  be  rubbed  with  some 
blistering  ointment,  and  the  horse  should  be  properly 
secured  to  prevent  his  biting  it.  After  four  days,  apply 
a  little  oil,  and  when  the  incrustation  formed  by  the 
blister  is  sufficiently  softened  to  be  removed,  wash  all  off 
with  soap  and  warm  water,  and  if  necessary  the  blister 
may  be  repeated  after  ten  days. 

Firing,  used  as  formerly,  w-as  resorted  to  for  the  pur- 
pose of  curing  spavins,  curbs,  ringbones,  windgalls,  and 
old  callous  swellings  of  the  back  sinews — the  consequence 
of  strains.  It  was  also  employed  to  strengthen  the 
hocks  and  back  sinews  of  colts,  to  prevent  strains  and 
breaking  down;  it  was  thought  that  it  did  this,  by  thick- 
ening and  contracting  the  skin,  so  as  to  act  as  a  per- 
manent bandage.  This  may  be  all  true,  and  have  been 
of  considerable  use  to  some  in  former  days,  and  may 
possibly  be  of  use  to  some  at  the  present  day.  But  if 
the  astringents  as  given  heretofore  in  this  work,  should 
answer  every  purpose  of  the  hot  iron  (or  firing),  there 
will  be  no  need  of  subjecting  the  animal  to  this  torture 
and    cruelty.     Fpr    it    is   certainly   attended    with    less 


252  avery's  own  farrier. 

trouble    and    risk,  both   to    the  horse,  as  well    as   the 
operator. 

Blister  Ointment. — Hog's  lard  four  ounces,  oil  (spirits) 
of  turpentine  and  Spanish  flies,  pulverised,  each  one 
ounce.  This  blister  is  sufficiently  strong  for  most  pur- 
poses of  the  horse. 

A  Mercurial  Blister. — For  splints,  spavins,  ringbones, 
&c.,  add  to  the  above  blister  ointment,  one  drachm  of 
corrosive  sublimate,  finely  powdered. 

Strong  Liquid  Blister. — Spanish  flies,  in  gross  pow- 
der, one  ounce,  oil  of  origanum  two  drachms,  oil  of  tur- 
pentine four  ounces,  olive  oil  two  ounces;  steep  the  flies 
in  the  turpentine  two  weeks,  strain  off,  and  then  add  the 
oils. 

Mild  Liquid  or  Sweating  Blister. — Take  one  ounce  of 
the  above  named  (strong),  and  add  one  and  a  half  ounces 
of  goose  or  olive  oil. 

Laxative  Clyster. — Thin  gruel  or  broth,  five  quarts, 
salts  six  ounces. 

Clyster  for  Gripes. — Mash  two  common  sized  onions, 
pour  over  them  two  ounces  of  oil  of  turpentine  and  a 
teaspoonfull  of  cayenne;  mix  the  whole  with  four  quarts 
of  warm  water,  sweetened  with  molasses. 

JVutritious  Clyster. — Thick  gruel,  made  of  oat  meal, 
three  quarts,  add  one  quart  of  good  ale  or  milk. 

The  Dead  Shot. — In  giving  balls,  see  that  they  are 
not  too  hard,  nor  too  large,  for  fear  they  might  piove 
fatal,  like  the  cannon  ball;  and  for  the  same  reason,  it  is 
well  enough  to  know  what  ingredients  they  are  made  of 

Hoof  Liquid. — Mix  half  a  pint  of  Spirits  of  turpen- 


avery's  own  farrier.  253 

tine  and  tar  together,  then  add  one  pint  of  lamp  or 
"whale  oil,  stirring  the  whole  well  before  using;  this 
softens  and  toughens  the  hoof  wonderfully  by  brushing 
them  over  with  it  night  and  morning.  And  when  you 
can  add  to  the  above  one  pint  of  chamber  lye  that  has 
stood  in  some  warm  place,  in  an  open  vessel  some  four 
weeks,  or  until  it  becomes  oily  and  ropy,  it  makes  the 
very  best  application  for  contracted  hoofs,  &c. 

Elder. — The  leaf  of  the  sweet  elder  (as  it  is  called), 
boiled  in  lard,  makes  a  very  soothing  emollient  applica- 
tion to  wounds  and  sores.  The  juice  of  the  leaves,  or 
bark,  of  the  poison  or  Dutch  elder,  is  highly  useful  in 
destroying  fly  blows  or  maggots  in  any  kind  of  wounds, 
&c.  Its  salutary  effect  will  soon  be  evident  on  turning 
it  on  them,  and  in  preparing  the  wound  to  heal. 

Lard  is  the  basis  of  all  ointments. 

Rosin  is  often  used  to  give  consistence  to  plasters, 
where  the  degree  of  irritation  which  it  might  produce  is 
not  regarded,  or  would  be  beneficial.  The  only  use  of 
wax,  is  to  give  consistence  to  ointments  and  plasters. 

j2  Mash, — There  are  three  objects  in  view,  in  giving 
mashes,  viz:  firstly,  to  cool  the  system;  secondly,  to 
assist  in  opening  the  bowels;  and  thirdly,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  concealing  medicines  which  may  be  necessary  to 
give  the  horse. 

Mash  JYo.  1. — Take  one  gallon  of  bran,  one  quart  oj 
sassafras  tea  scalding  hot,  one  tablcspoonfull  flour  of  sul- 
phur, saltpetre  one  teaspoonfull. 

Mash  JVo.  2. — Take  one  gallon  of  oats,  one  tablc- 
spoonfull of  sulphur,   and   the    same   of  burdock   root 

22 


254  avery's  own  farrier. 

(Lappi)  dried  and  powdered,  and  boiling  water  to  scald 
the  mass. 

Mash  No.  3. — An  excellent  mash  in  cases  of  catarrh 
and  sore  throat,  and  as  an  emollient,  in  any  intestinal 
affection,  is  made  by  adding  bran  to  an  infusion  of  lin- 
seed. And  you  may  add  to  any  of  the  above  ginger, 
burdock  or  cayenne,  for  colds,  or  any  thing  else  to  suit 
the  disease  you  are  contending  with. 

Mhenve  or  Sticking  Plaster. — Take  five  parts  of 
common  pitch  (or  diachylon  salve),  and  one  part  of  Bur- 
gundy pitch,  melt  them  together  and  stir  until  well  mixed, 
and  the  plaster  is  made.  Or  you  may  take  two  parts 
(half  pound)  of  common  plaster,  and  one  part  (one- 
fourth  of  a  pound)  of  Burgundy  pitch;  melt  as  before. 
Used  sometimes  in  room  of  the  surgeon's  needle  to  ad- 
vantage by  shaving  off  the  hair;  in  dressing  fresh 
wounds,  apply  them  in  narrow  strips,  and  so  as  to  bring 
the  margins  of  the  wound  together. 

5 

BALLS    AND    DRINKS. 

Mode  oj" giving  a  Ball. — Back  the  horse  into  his  stall, 
and  being  yourself  elevaled  on  a  box  or  stool,  gently 
draw  the  tongue  out  of  the  mouth,  so  as  to  pre\'ent  its 
rising  to  hinder  the  passage  of  the  hand.  The  tongue 
should  not  only  be  laid  hold  of,  but  should  be  firmly  held 
by  the  left  hand  against  the  jaw.  The  ball,  being 
'previously  oilrd,  should  be  taken  in  the  right  hand,  and 
squeezed  into  as  narrow  a  compass  as  practicable,  and 
passed  up  close  to  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  and  the  ball 
placed   on  the  roots  of  the  tongue,  when    both   hands 


avery's  own  farrier.  255 

should  be  suddenly  withdrawn,  and  it  will  readily  pass 
down  the  throat.  This  method  is  preferable  (with  an 
expert  hand)  to  using  the  balling  iron. 

Mode  of  giving  Drinks. — Precisely  the  same  opera- 
tion is  practised  as  in  giving  the  ball,  except  that  a  tin 
or  gutta  percha  horn,  holding  the  drink,  is  forced  up 
the  mouth  between  the  teelh,  the  mouth  being  raised 
above  a  level  line  of  the  passage,  the  drink  being  poured 
out  of  the  smaller  end  of  the  horn  well  back  to  the  roots 
of  the  tongue,  and  when  the  tongue  is  loosened  the  drench 
is  swallowed  without  further  trouble. 

ROWELS 

Are  sometimes  useful  in  keeping  up  a  drain,  to  draw 
humors  from  parts;  or  by  the  irritation  they  cause,  on 
one  part,  they  lessen  the  inflammation  on  another  part, 
not  very  remote.  The  same  as  unloading  the  bowels  by 
physic,  it  helps  relieve  the  surrounding  organs,  &c. 
Any  person  can  apply  a  rowel  by  making  an  incision  in 
the  loose  skin,  any  desirable  length,  say  from  one  to  four 
inches,  according  to  the  situation  and  object  aimed  at. 
Make  the  incision  either  up  and  down,  or  in  a  transverse 
direction,  for  this  will  facilitate  the  matter  discharged; 
after  pinching  the  loose  skin  and  running  the  knife 
through,  making  the  incision  large  enough  to  admit  the 
rowel,  or  whatever  you  may  choose  to  use  for  this  pur- 
pose. A  tarred  rope  may  be  used,  or  any  kind  of  a 
string  with  pieces  of  scoke  weed  root  fastened  to  it;  or 
a  round  piece  of  leather  with  a  hole  in  the  middle,  and 
smeared   over  with  the  blistering  ointment.     Each  end 


266  avery's  own  farrier. 

of  the  rowel  should  be  knotted  or  tied  together,  to  pre- 
vent the  horse  from  pulling  it  out  with  his  teeth,  or  by 
rubbing.  Let  it  remain  three  days,  or  until  suppuration 
has  commenced;  the  rowel  is  then  to  be  removed  and 
cleaned  every  day,  until  the  desired  object  is  effected. 
Used  for  sweeny,  and  other  disorders;  I  have  known 
them  remain  in  use  for  months. 


AVERY*S  OWN    FARRIER.  259 


RIDING  AND  DRIVING. 

The  art  of  riiling  on  horseback  (or  equestrianism)  is 
so  closely  connected  with  breaking  and  educating  the 
horse  (in  fact  it  nay  be  considered  part  of  the  same), 
that  it  will  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  say  a  great  deal 
on  this  point.  However,  it  is  one  of  the  nicest  accom- 
plishments ever  attained  by  gentleman  or  lady,  and  when 
once  arrived  at  in  any  degree  of  perfection,  the  horse  as 
well  as  its  rider,  never  appears  to  better  advantage,  than 
when  occupying  this  position. 

The  old  method  of  whip  and  spur,  did  very  well  for 
the  troopers,  and  required  considerable  ingenuity  and 
skill,  but  the  horse  never  appears  so  graceful  when 
forced  to  do  anything,  as  when  learned  to  obey  you  by 
the  slightest,  unseen  motion  of  hand,  rein  or  whip;  still 
he  does  this  partly  through  fear,  for  he  is  a  cowardly 
creature,  though  we  find  in  his  instinct  a  nobler  princi- 
ple blended  with  it,  when  developed  by  kind  treatment — 
love.  And  besides  this,  the  spur  is  useless  to  the  lady 
equestrian;  for  her  use,  the  horse  should  first  be  tutored 
by  a  man  well  skilled  in  this  art,  and  then  she  has  only 
to  learn  the  horse  alphabet,  and  mount  her  charger,  with 
a  feeling  of  pride  (destitute  of  fear),  to  be  able  to  cut  all 
the  airs  and  evolutions  of  a  riding  master. 

The  spur  may  be  of  use  in  breaking  a  horse  that  is 
restive,  and  may  answer  the  purpose  of  ornament  to  some 
afterwards,  without  harm;  but  I  hope  never  to  see  again 


260  avery's  own  farrier, 

the   horse's   sides,   by  an   inebriate    rider,  in  a  gore  of 
blood. 

A  horse  is  easily  alarmed,  for  he  will  even  start  from 
the  hand  that  is  going  to  caress  him;  therefore  he  should 
not  be  forced  to  that  which  he  dislikes.  But  when  a 
horse  curvets  irregularly,  twisting  his  body  to  and  fro, 
turn  his  head  either  to  the  right  or  left,  or  both  alter- 
nately, but  without  letting  him  move  out  of  his  tracks, 
if  possible  to  prevent  him;  for  if  he  once  gains  his  end, 
he  will  be  likely  to  repeat  that  which  has  foiled  his 
rider.  Therefore  when  a  horse  shies  or  is  frightened  at 
any  object,  he  should  be  used  to  some  tone  of  voice  which 
he  may  understand  as  an  expression  of  dislike  of  what 
he  is  doing,  for  all  horses  will  show  at  times  a  spirit  of 
of  opposition,  and  especially  if  not  properly  subdued 
while  being  broke  in;  so  when  a  horse  shys,  turn  his 
head  from  the  object  that  scares  him  (this  is  also  appli- 
cable in  driving)  and  press  your  leg  to  the  opposite 
side  from  which  he  is  expected  to  jump;  then  he  will  not 
spring  on  his  hind  legs  to  that  side,  because  your  leg 
prevents  him  from  so  doing;  nor  will  he  attempt  to 
spring  the  other  way,  because  his  head  is  turned  from 
the  object  of  his  fright;  and  a  horse  does  not  start  and 
spring  the  way  he  looks. 

The  bridle  is  not  the  only  power  to  govern  the  horse's 
movements;  for  instance,  if  the  left  spur  touch  him,  and 
he  is  at  the  same  time  prevented  from  going  forward,  he 
has  a  sign  given  him  that  he  will  soon  understand,  to 
move  sideways  to  the  right.  In  the  same  manner  he 
moves  to  the  left,  if  the  right  spur  js  close  to  him;  and 
afterwards,  from  fear  of  the  spur,  he  will  obey  the  touch 


AVERY 's   OWN   FARRIER.  _       261 

of  the  leg — the  same  as  a  horse  moves  his  croup  in  the 
stall  from  one  side  to  the  other,  when  touched  with  the 
whip,  or  by  the  motion  of  the  hand. 

Every  horseman  knows  very  well  that  his  horse  never 
disobeys  the  motion  of  the  leg,  after  being  made  ac- 
quainted with  its  use  and  meaning.  By  this  means  you 
have  great  power  in  controling  or  governing  the  move- 
ments of  your  horse,  for  when  you  close  one  leg  to  him, 
he  will  move  sideways,  and  when  you  close  both  legs  to 
him,  he  moves  forward.  And  even  when  he  stands  still, 
your  legs  held  close  to  him  keep  him  ever  on  the  qui 
Vive  ;  when,  with  the  least  motion  of  the  rein  he  will 
prick  up  his  ears  and  raise  his  head,  so  as  to  show  to  the 
best  advantage  possible.  All  the  airs  (as  riding  masters 
call  them)  once  depended  on  the  use  of  the  legs,  in  the 
guidance  of  the  horse's  croup,  by  which  troopers  were 
taught  to  close  or  open  their  ranks.  But  as  the  horse  is, 
or  ought  to  be  educated  in  these  days,  for  pleasure,  sport- 
ing or  war,  there  are  other  things  brought  into  requisi- 
tion which  enable  his  rider  to  pursue  the  chase  within 
his  length  of  any  marked  spot,  at  the  top  of  his  speed, 
and  at  a  given  signal  stop  so  suddenly  and  balance  him 
on  his  haunches,  as  to  prevent  going  over  the  precipice, 
and  being  hurled  into  the  abyss  below.  Though  when 
a  horse  starts,  and  is  flying  to  one  side,  if  you  close  the 
leg  on  that  side  of  him,  it  will  stop  his  spring  immedi- 
ately, and  he  will  go  past  the  object  he  started  at,  keeping 
straight  on,  or  as  you  choose  to  guide  him,  and  he  will 
not  fly  back  at  anything,  if  you  press  him  with  both  legs. 

The  rein  is  a  necessary  for  the  accompanient  for  the 
leg,  hand  and  whip,  in  riding;  by  which  means  you  can 


262  avery's  own  farrier. 

break  the  trot  or  gallop,  if  desirable,  which  sometimes 
is  of  great  use,  for  no  horse  can  trot  a  mile  as  quick, 
without  breaking  once  or  twice,  as  the  trot  is  the  most 
straining  gait  to  the  muscles,  and  he  will  more  than 
make  up  what  he  loses  in  so  doing,  before  he  goes  the 
mile.  It  also  guides  the  horse  in  the  gallopade,  or  race, 
when  it  should  be  drawn  taut  for  this  purpose,  and  to 
support  him  in  case  he  should  happen  from  any  cause  to 
stumble,  as  well  as  for  the  safety  of  the  rider.  In  learn- 
ing the  horse  to  pace,  the  rein  is  indispensable.  This 
will  also  apply  with  equal  force  in  the  act  of  leaping 
hurdles,  or  hedges.  It  should  be  used  with  the  greatest 
care,  in  attempting  to  swim  your  horse  across  rivers  or 
lakes,  for  if  he  should  get  his  legs  entangled  in  any  of 
his  trappings,  he  would  draw  his  head  under  the  water 
and  be  sure  to  drown  himself,  if  he  did  not  his  rider. 
Unless  it  is  with  some  experrenced  hand,  the  curb  and 
snaffle  check,  had  better  be  dispensed  with  altogether. 
Sit  straight  up,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  saddle,  having 
your  stirrups  neither  too  long  nor  too  short,  and  keep 
your  elbows  close  to  the  body;  carry  a  tight  rein  in  one 
hand,  and  a  whip  in  the  other,  if  you  choose. 

With  the  following  remarks,  which  may  possibly  be 
of  some  use  to  the  inexperienced,  I  shall  dismiss  the 
subject.  Riding  is  an  invigorating  and  healthy  exercise, 
and  is  fast  taking  the  place  of  the  ancient  gymnastics. 
It  helps  keep  up  the  equilibrium  of  the  body.  It  is  a 
harmless  amusement  that  both  sexes  may  enjoy  with  the 
highest  degree  of  refinement. 

The  youth  though  healthy  and  Srongly  constituted, 


avery's  own  farrier.  265 

are  not  generally  inclined  to  great  mental  exertion,  till 
their  bodies  are  to  a  certain  degree  fatigued  (I  do  not 
say  exhausted),  until  this  fatigue  is  produced  in  someway, 
their  bodies  have  a  preponderance  over  the  mind;  this 
truly  natural  want  can  not  be  silenced  without  it.  "Each 
muscle  requires  exertion,  and  the  whole  machine  strives 
to  employ  its  powers.  This  is  vulgarly  called,  to  have 
no  sit  still  flesh."  If  the  fatigue  is  brought  on,  the  call 
for  bodily  exertion  is  stilled,  the  mind  is  no  longer 
disturbed  by  it,  and  its  labors  are  facilitated. 

Riding  is  also  a  peaceful  and  innocent  exercise,  which 
gives  acuteness  to  the  senses,  and  penetration  to  the 
mind.  And  when  more  of  our  village  belles,  have 
learned  to  imitate  our  modern  Lady  Equestrians,  I  shall 
be  most  happy  to  see  them.     So  good  bye. 

(See  directions  for  training,  &c.) 


23 


266  ayery's  own  farrier. 

DRIVING. 

This  is  a  very  important  branch  of  industry,  where- 
ever  the  horse  may  be  employed,  and  perhaps  as  little 
heeded  as  any  other  in  so  common  use,  by  a  majority  of 
drivers.  A  good  reinsman  keeps  his  reins  drawn  closely 
especially  in  all  gaits  faster  than  a  walk.  Here  the 
order  is  reversed  somewhat  from  that  of  riding  in  this 
respect — therein  has  the  chief,  and  I  might  say  the  only 
power  of  guiding  the  team  on  the  road;  though  they 
might  come  to  a  halt  without  a  little  tingle. 

A  first  class  reinsman  keeps  an  eye  to  the  road  before 
him,  so  as  to  shun  all  holes  and  stones  that  may  happen 
to  be  near  his  track;  this  saves  a  great  deal  of  wear  and 
tear,  both  to  his  horses  and  carriage,  and  enables  him  to 
glide  along  by  any  team  he  happens  to  meet  on  the  road, 
gracefully,  without  any  seeming  or  visible  effort  of  his 
own.  He  will  also  have  his  horses  trained  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  will  feel  the  slightest  motion  imaginable 
of  the  bit,  made  by  the  taut  rein,  so  that  they  will  not 
turn  up  to  every  house,  or  stop  to  talk  to  every  person 
they  meet  on  the  road,  or  even  at  his  own  barn,  until  they 
have  a  sign  given  them  from  their  master's  rein  or  voice 
to  do  so. 

The  tight  rein  is  a  support  to  the  horse  in  going  over 
uneven  ground,  or  down  a  hill,  and  is  a  sign  to  him  when 
drawn  on  a  plane,  that  he  may  expect  something  else 
unless  he  obeys  this.  In  fact  a  good  reinsman  will  drive 
considerably  faster,  safer,  and  with  less  straining  to  cords, 
muscles,  wheels  and  gearing,  than  an  awkward,  unskilled 
driver. 


avery's  own  farrier.  267 

There  is  another  important  point  in  the  art  of  driving, 
that  is  (generally)  but  little  heeded,  that  is,  in  driving  a 
horse  that  is  liable  to  interfere,  and  in  fact  this  difficulty 
oftener  arises  from  carek'ss  driving,  than  any  fault  of  the 
horse.  You  will  notice  that  they  seldom  cut  but  one  leg, 
and  where  two  are  driven  together,  or  side  by  side,  it  is 
almost  invariably  the  freest  or  fastest  horse  that  does 
this;  because  his  head  is  pulled  in  from  a  straight  line 
that  he  is  traveling  on,  consequently  it  will  be  the  out- 
side leg  that  gets  cut;  to  avoid  which  his  head  should 
be  turned  by  a  tight  rein  a  little  the  other  way  from  the 
straight  line,  which  will  throw  the  foot  he  cuts  with  out 
instead  of  in. 

A  great  many  horses,  that  are  used  for  draft,  in  the 
snowy  regions,  are  quite  apt  in  crowding  each  other  off 
from  the  road  through  fear,  when  the  rein  does  not  have 
much  influence  over  them —  which  could  be  remedied  by 
making  the  sleighs  for  those  districts  some  six  or  eight 
inches  wider  than  they  are  now  used,  an  improvement 
that  is  much  needed — especially  where  they  have  five 
or  six  months'  sleighing  in  each  year.  This  would  make 
a  road  sufficiently  wide  for  them  to  travel  on  without 
being  in  fear  of  falling  off  into  the  deep  snow. 

Now  let  us  take  a  glimpse  at  the  second  or  third  class 
of  drivers,  and  mark  the  contrast.  He  mopes  along 
with  his  horse's  heads  down  about  to  their  knees,  and  his 
lines  on  a  level  with  the  same,  going  over  every  stone, 
hole  or  log  that  may  be  in  his  way,  with  no  other  means 
of  quickening  their  pace  except  the  use  of  the  whip, 
which  will  be  applied  freely;  and  when  his  team  hap- 
pens to  have  life  enough  to  become  frightened  at  any- 


268  a\ery's  own  farrier. 

thing,  they  start,  and,  before  he  is  able  to  gather  the 
lines  sufficiently  to  stop  them,  his  load  is  landed  perhaps 
bottom  upwards  in  the  ditch.  Well,  he  crawls  up  on 
the  road  again  and  loads  up,  goes  along  a  short  distance, 
and  meets  another  team,  when  he  has  another  dilemma 
to  pass  through.  However  he  braces  himself  up  in  the 
fore  end  of  his  carriage  and  immediately  succeeds  in 
hauling  up  his  lines  sufficiently  to  turn  his  horses'  heads 
to  one  side  of  the  path  he  is  pursuing;  and  then  with  both 
hands  forward  of  the  splash  board,  continually  shaking 
the  lines,  and  halloing  "  hep,  hep,  hep,"  he  comes  into 
the  road  again  (in  case  they  do  not  lock  wheels)  and 
then,  with  a  free  use  of  the  whip,  on  he  goes  until  he 
comes  along  near  a  house  or  another  object  where  his 
horse  wants  to  stoj)  again,  when  he  has  only  to  repeat 
the  last  operation,  viz:  the  shake,  hep  and  whip,  to  go 
on  as  happy  as  a  clam. 

Men  who  drive  fast,  generally  have  fast  horses;  not 
so  much  because  they  have  swift  horses,  but  because  fast 
driving  makes  swift  horses.  Therefore  the  best  direc- 
tions I  can  give  you  to  make  horses  swift,  will  be  in  the 
language  of  another,  "  drive  fast,  and  stop  often." 

A  horse  can  generally  be  trained  to  a  dull  and  logy, 
or  to  an  airy  and  fleety  gait.  Any  strong  and  muscu- 
lar horse,  that  is  sound,  and  has  been  no  ways  previously 
injured,  can  be  trained  to  a  fast  gait.  Nature  unquestion- 
ably does  much;  but  education  and  training  does  far  more 
towards  producing  the  great  difference  in  the  speed  of 
horses  than  most  people  are  willing  to  admit.  Horses 
are  oftener  injured  by  driving  them  beyond  their  habit- 
ual gait,  than  beyond  their  native  power. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  269 

For  example,  if  you  want  a  fast  walker,  you  must  use 
him  to  that  gait  mostly,  for  a  horse  that  is  trotted  most 
of  the  time  while  on  the  road,  will  walk  very  slowly 
whenever  he  stops  the  trot,  and  when  he  is  trained  to 
the  walk,  he  is  not  capable  of  much  fast  trotting,  previous 
to  being  trained  for  it,  without  injury  to  him.  And  so, 
if  you  want  a  fast  trotter,  you  must  use  him  to  this  gait, 
remembering  the  text,  to  drive  fast,  and  stop  often 
enough  not  to  injure  your  horse's  wind.  And  so  with 
all  other  gaits,  for  there  never  was  a  two-forty  horse 
(trotter)  without  previous  training. 

The  farmer  who  wishes  to  have  his  horse  show  off  to 
good  advantage  at  any  particular  village,  or  at  the  mar- 
ket (for  instance),  and  has  not  given  his  horse  the 
necessary  exercise  to  give  strength  to  his  muscles,  &c., 
although  his  horse  may  be  fat  and  look  finely,  must  drive 
slowly  and  cautiously  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
place,  when  he  will  not  be  doomed  to  disappointment; 
for  driving  him  fast  then  a  short  distance  will  not  injure 
him,  and  he  will  show  well.  But,  on  the  other  hand, 
let  him  drive  so  as  to  go  in  with  his  horse  all  sweat, 
and  his  spirits  drooping,  and  he  will  appear  in  the  worst 
possible  plight  he  could  fix  him;  and  would  need  the 
best  of  care  to  prevent  him  from  taking  cold,  and  per- 
haps becoming  diseased. 

The  property  and  even  the  life  of  men,  women  and 
children,  often  depend  on  the  art  and  skill  of  the  reins- 
man,  or  in  careful  and  correct  driving.  Thus  it  is,  that 
owners  of  horses,  should  not  entrust  those  noble  animals 
to  careless  and  reckless  drivers.  And  all  those  who  are 
entrusted  or  employed  in  this  occupation,  either  for  them- 


270 


AVERY  S  OWN    FARRIER. 


selves  or  fellow  men,  should  be  sober,  thinking  men,  and 

aware  of  the  above  fact,  for  their  own  benefit,  as  well  as 

for  the  horse  they  drive.     And  then  the  horse  would  not 

often  be  under  the  necessity  of  calling  out  (if  allowed  to 

talk)  as  he  is  said  to  have  done,  by  the  expression  found 

in  the  following  lines: 

"  Up  the  hill  urge  me  not; 
Down  the  hill  trot  me  not; 
On  the  plain  spare  me  not-, 
To  the  hostler  trust  me  not.'* 


N'ame  and  Situation  of  the  Parts  of  the  Hoof  of  the  Horse. 


[See  page  30] 


avery's  own  farrier.  271 


GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  DISEASES,  &c. 

I  deem  it  a  duty  I  owe  the  public,  as  well  as  myself, 
to  offer  some  general  views  on  this  subject,  before  I  con- 
clude this  work,  which  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity 
of  doing  in  my  own  way,  and  my  story  is  told;  as  I  have 
proceeded  thus  far  without  dictionary  or  library,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  old  almanacs,  papers,  and  recipes 
that  I  had  carefully  preserved  and  had  in  my  possession, 
which  I  hope  will  answer  for  all  apologies  necessary  for 
the  more  learned,  for  any  and  all  the  errors  I  have  or 
may  commit. 

The  same  principles  existed  in  nature  when  the  world 
began,  that  exist  now,  and  the  same  that  will  exist  for 
all  time  to  come.  When  any  new  discovery  is  made  by 
man,  or  anything  new  appears  to  us,  it  is  only  because 
the  mind  is  more  fully  developed,  or  brought  nearer  the 
object,  and  capable  of  receiving  the  truth  as  it  existed 
before.  We  must  necessarily  learn  much  from  great 
men  and  great  minds,  that  have  lived  before  us;  but  we 
should  not  content  ourselves  with  this  alone,  for  then  we 
should  go  back  instead  of  progressing  in  usefulness.  For 
they  in  their  aspirations  to  grasp  great  things,  overlooked 
(to  them)  many  smaller  ones,  which  are  of  the  greatest 
importance  to  mankind,  which  experience  teaches  that 
we  can  pick  up  and  improve  on,  only  by  the  closest  ob- 
servation of  passing  events,  and  all  our  wants. 

That  a  reformation  is  needed  in  a  great  many  of  our 
stables,  both  in  country  and  town,  in  medicating,  driving 
and   caring  for  the   horse,  will  be  readily  admitted   by 


272  avery's  own  farrier. 

those  that  have  numbers  of  them  drawn  to  the  shades  or 
shambles  every  year,  if  by  none  else. 

1  am  about  to  make  some  remarks  about  horses,  and 
disease,  that  will  be  well  for  all  to  remember  that  fee) 
an  interest  in  this  important  subject. 

1  am  not  so  much  in  favor  of  blood-letting,  or  physic- 
ing  as  a  great  many,  but  I  consider  the  fleam  and  lancet 
much  safer  in  the  hands  even  of  the  inexperienced,  than 
I  do  the  stimulating  drugs  and  oils  commonly  used  by 
them,  for  this  reason:  the  common  sized  horse  contains 
from  twenty  to  twenty-four  quarts  of  blood  on  an  ave- 
rage; of  which  four  quarts  may  be  taken  without  mate- 
rially injuring  him  at  any  time,  and  in  cases  of  acute 
inflammation  and  fever,  as  of  the  lungs,  &c.,  one-third  of 
the  whole  has  been  taken  to  advantage;  and  it  requires 
four-fifths  of  the  whole  to  be  taken  to  produce  death. 
He  is  not  so  liable  to  suffer  from  depletion,  in  this  way 
as  he  is  from  physicing,  and  the  eflfects  of  these  poisons 
(allowing  they  are  carried  to  excess).  For  the  blood  is 
sooner  supplied  by  nature,  than  the  bowels,  stomach  and 
bones  can  be  restored  by  art  to  their  wonted  office  and 
health  after  being  so  deranged  in  all  their  parts. 

I  prefer  vegetable  medicine  to  mineral,  for  most  dis- 
eases— not  that  I  would  take  the  course  of  some,  and 
call  all  mineral  substances  poison,  for  as  deadly  poisons 
are  found  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  as  in  any  other.  But 
because  it  is  cheaper,  as  almost  every  person  can  gather 
all  he  needs  for  himself  (without  money  and  without 
price)  and  is  generally  given  in  teas,  drinks  and  mashes; 
which  are  more  cooling  and  soothing  to  nature,  besides 
this,  it  is  safer  in  most  hands. 


avery's  own  farrier.  273 

Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  more  than  one  half  of  all 
the  diseases  of  the  horse  arise  in  the  first  place  from  bad 
management,  or  from  want  of  good  management:  from 
an  improper  system  of  feeding,  over  medicating,  from 
ill-constructed,  unventilated  and  filthy  stabling,  or  from 
injudicious  driving  and  neglect  of  cleaning,  and  from  an 
untimely  or  improper  use  of  the  blanket?  To  learn  my 
views  of  which  you  have  only  to  turn  and  read  that  which 
I  have  written  on  this  point. 

Every  proprietor  of  a  stable  should  be  capable  of 
managing  all  ordinary  complaints,  within  his  own  stable; 
but  as  this  is  not  always  the  case,  the  horse  is  often  left 
to  the  mercy  of  some  fellow  who  really  knows  nothing 
more  about  the  structure  and  wants  of  him,  than  he  does 
about  the  model  of  an  engine,  or  the  economy  of  an  em- 
pire. And  yet  he  trumps  loudly  and  has  a  thousand  and 
one  infallible  remedies  for  almost  every  disease,  the 
names  of  which  he  does  not  know,  neither  their  causes, 
origin,  or  operation  on  the  system;  and  if  he  knows 
their  names,  he  is  entirely  incapable  of  distinguishing 
one  from  another.  He  applies,  hap-hazard,  these  hot 
drugs,  totally  ignorant  of  their  effect  on  the  system 
generally,  or  on  the  particular  disease,  and  nine  times 
out  often  he  may  apply  them  wrong;  and  so  aggravate 
ten  fold,  the  disease  which  he  pretends  to  be  able  to 
cure. 

To  remedy  the  above  evil,  I  would  recommend  that 
every  such  person  should  be  obliged  to  swallow  one- 
fourth  the  quantity  of  the  same  kind  of  medicine  that  he 
is  going  to  give  the  horse,  whether  it  injured  the  horse 
or  not.     When  you  find  one  that  is  willing  to  stand  this 


274  avery's  own  farrier. 

test  (or  can  explain  satisfactorily  the  nature  of  the  dis- 
ease, or  the  effect  of  the  medicine  he  recommends),  you 
need  not  be  afraid  to  employ  him  to  doctor  your  horse. 
If  this  fiery  ordeal  is  thought  too  severe  a  test,  1  would 
say  that  most  diseases  of  the  horse  are  analagous  to  ours 
and  require  about  the  same  mode  of  treatment. 

Notwithstanding  the  horse  is  often  taken  suddenly  and 
dangerously  ill,  when  the  ingenuity  and  skill,  even  of 
the  most  experienced  may  sometimes  be  taxed  to  tell  the 
precise  difficulty  immediately  (and  it  yet  is  necessary  that 
something  should  be  done  on  the  spot,  to  relieve  his  suf- 
fering, and  expedite  a  cure,  before  medical  aid  could  be 
procured),  there  are  those  palliating  medicines,  innocent 
in  themselves,  and  often  useful,  that  may  be  administered 
in  the  meantime  (of  which  I  have  recommended),  and 
nine  times  out  of  ten,  are  all  that  are  necessary  to  be 
given  to  effect  a  speedy  and  permanent  cure,  whereby, 
if  relief  had  not  been  found  in  this  way,  the  malady 
might  have  gained  such  headway,  that  when  advice 
arrived,  it  would  be  too  late  to  check  it.  Although  at 
these  times  we  should  be  cautious  in  giving  physic  as 
well  as  when  poisons  have  been  taken,  for  in  cases  of 
acute  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  &c.,  it  might  prove 
fatal.  He  that  remembereth  these  things  doelh  well,  for 
how  much  wiser  is  a  man  to-day  for  what  he  has  for- 
gotten? 

FEEDING    AND    MEDICATING. 

The  researches  of  physiologists  and  botanists,  have 
demonstrated  this  fact,  that  the  fibrin,  the  albumen,  the 
oil,  and  all  those  earthy  salts  that  go  to  form  bone  and 
muscles  in  animals,  are  found  in  their  food,  in  plants  and 


avery's  own  farrier.  275 

vegetables,  and  in  their  seeds  and  grain,  and  that  the 
animal  appropriates  them  ready  formed,  which  goes  to 
show  that  the  stomach  of  the  horse  is  not  a  chemical 
laboratory  for  the  manufacture  of  these  constituents,  but 
that  they  are  selected  from  the  food  he  eats,  by  the 
stomach,  and  deposited  where  they  are  required. 

It  is  said  also,  that  from  every  five  to  seven  years,  the 
whole  body  of  the  horse  in  all  its  parts  undergoes  a 
change,  is  thrown  off,  and  again  renewed.  Then  each 
day,  a  portion  of  the  animal  is  passing  away  (in  excre- 
ment, in  perspiration  and  respiration),  and  in  each  day 
nature  endeavors  to  repair  the  loss,  for  there  must  be  a 
constant  building  up  and  repairing  of  the  body  going  on 
at  all  times,  consequently  it  becomes  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  the  proper  building  material  be  furnished,  or 
the  whole  structure  becomes  weak  and  worthless.  This 
also  teaches  us  that  such  food  is  necessary  for  the  horse 
as  will  supply  the  component  parts  of  the  body,  in  right 
proportion  for  the  healthy  action  of  the  whole. 

Long  experience  has  taught  us  that  oats  is  the  best 
kind  of  grain  (dry  food)  we  have  for  constant  feed  for 
the  horse,  though  it  does  not  contain  as  much  nutritive 
matter  per  bushel,  as  some  other  kinds  of  grain  that  are 
given  in  a  more  concentrated  form,  all  which  is  more  or 
less  prejudicial  to  health.  The  above,  with  some  re- 
marks I  am  about  to  make,  will,  I  think,  prove  my  posi- 
tion correct  as  to  feeding,  and  the  propriety  of  an  occa- 
sional change  of  feed,  &c.,  heretofore  given. 

When  the  heavier  and  hot  kinds  of  grain  are  used,  it 
is  best  to  have  it  ground  and  mixed  with  good  cut  hay 
or  straw,  so  that  you  feed  the  same  amount  of  nutritive 


276  avery's  own  farrier. 

matter,  with  the  same  bulk  (as  near  as  you  can),  as  you 
did  when  feeding  oats  and  hay.     Nature  plainly  shows 
this  to  be  a  correct  principle,  and  also  the  importance  of 
a  change  of  diet  occasionally,   in   the  seasons,  in   the 
fruits,  and   in   the   green  food   she  yields  for  our  suste- 
nance.    Extract  the  nutritive  properties  from  the  food 
we  eat,  and  take  our  food  in  that  form,  will  it  long  sus- 
tain  life?      Certainly    not. — Liehig.     The   bony    frame 
work  of  animals,  owes  its  solidity  to  phosphate  of  lime, 
says  Johnson,  and   this  substance  must  be  furnished  by 
the  food.     The  ordinary  kinds  of  food  contain  a  large 
quantity  of  vegetable  fibre  or  woody   matter,   which  is 
more  or  less  indigestible,  but  which  is  indispensable  to 
the  welfare   of  herbaceous   animals,   as  their   digestive 
organs  are  adapted  to  rough  and  bulky  food.     The  addi- 
tion of  a  small  quantity  of  food,  rich  in  oil  and  albumi- 
nous  substances,   may   be    made    advantageously,   but 
neither  hay  alone,  nor  concentrated  food  alone,  give  the 
best  result.     This  fact  should  be  impressed  on  the  mind 
of  every  farmer,  and  by  every  day  practice.     Every  ani- 
mal  of  a   higher   organization  than  a  worm  (and  they 
often  crawl  out  of  the  earth  and  partake  of  the  cucum- 
ber and   cabbage  plants),  needs   a  diversity  of  food  to 
make  up  a  healthy  animal  structure.     The  similarity  to 
other  green  food,   together   with   the    pectic    acid  that 
carrots    contain,   causing   thorough    digestion    of  other 
food,  renders   them   a  desirable  article  of  food   for  the 
horse. 

The  horse  may  be  compared  (with  some  propriety)  to 
the  steam  engine  or  railroad  locomotive,  the  lungs  being 
the  furnace,  the  stomach  the  boiler  containing  the  water, 


Avery's  own  farrier.  277 

and  the  groom,  the  fireman  that  puts  in  fuel  to  keep  the 
whole  in  motion.     The  food  of  the   horse    after   being 
masticated,  is  taken  into  the  stomach,  and  there  digested^ 
then  it  passes  into  the  intestines,  and  the  nutritious  por- 
tions are  mingled  with  the  fluids  or  gastric  juice,  when 
it  is  sucked  up  by  an  infinite  number  of  mouths,  or  lac- 
teals,  which  are  connected  with  (he  blood  vessels,  from 
whence  it   is  carried  in   the  form  of  blood  through  the 
heart  and  distributed  to  every  part  of  the  system.      While 
a  portion  of  the  gum,  starch    and  sugar,  contained    in 
vegetables  aie  used   by  the  animal,  in  respiration    or 
creating  heat   to  the   lungs,   and   other  portiorjs  of  the 
body.     These   substances  consist  of  carbon  and  water 
only,  the  carbon  combining  with  oxygen,  is  breathed  out 
in  the  form  of  carbonic  acid.     To  say  no  more  about  the 
niceties  of  his  complicated  structure,  it  is  just  as  evident 
that  the  horse  requires  food  that  contains  these  proper- 
ties in  right  proportion  for  his  constituent  parts,  as  it  is 
to  suppose  that  the  engine  must  be  supplied  with  wood 
and  water,  in  order  to  get  up  steam  enough  to  propel  its 
machinery   (and   one  is  about    as    complicated    as   the 
other);  and  when  these  properties  are  not  found  in  suffi- 
cient quantities,  or  in   right  proportions,   in  the   food  of 
the  animal,  or  in  wood  and  water  for  the   engine,  then 
the  oil  for  lubricating  the  machinery  is  drawn'upon  for 
fuel,  or  the  fat  and  flesh  itself  of  the  animal  goes   into 
the  furnace,   and  the  whole  is  soon  burned  out,  when    it 
ceases  to  exist.     But  when   both  are   properly  supplied 
with  food  and  fuel,  they  may  be  seen  puffing  and  snort- 
ing across  the  plain  together,  until  the  one  challenges 

24  ^ 


278  avery's  own  farrier. 

the  other  in  the  distance  to  come  on  and  bear  him  com- 
pany. 

An  excess  of  hot  food,  as  corn,  &c.,  fails  to  excite  the 
coats  of  the  stomach  to  secrete  their  digestive  fluids 
(heating  the  furnace  too  hot),  while  the  other  parts  are 
left  unsupplied,  such  as  goes  to  help  form  bone,  muscle 
and  fibres  of  the  animal,  which  must  result,  if  persevered 
in,  in  the  total  destruction  of  (he  whole  animal  structure. 

Thus  we  see  that  when  the  inward  heat  is  raised  too 
high  by  the  use  of  medicine,  or  by  feeding  any  of  the 
heavier  kinds  of  grain,  for  the  healthy  action  of  the 
whole  system,  the  proper  remedies  to  be  employed  is  to 
feed  the  more  cooling  and  lighter  grains,  that  I  have 
heretofore  mentioned,*  which  will  supply  the  wants  of 
each  and  every  part  of  the  body,  in  just  proportion  to 
benefit  the  whole.  And  it  is  precisely  the  same  thing 
in  medicating  the  horse;  when  the  lungs  (or  furnace)  is 
too  hot,  you  should  not  fan  the  flame  by  adding  more 
fuel,  in  the  form  of  those  stimulating  drugs  so  often  used; 
but  when  there  is  a  want  of  vitality  (or  the  fire  is  too 
low),  use  the  articles  I  have  recommended  for  this  pur- 
pose, sufficiently  to  raise  it  to  its  natural  heat,  and  then 

"*  The  virgin  soil  will  produce  almost  any  kind  of  vegetation,  under 
a  proper  state  of  cultivation ;  but  you  continue  to  crop  it  with  one 
kind  only,  it  will  soon  exhaust  all  the  qualities  of  the  soil  that  are 
required  to  grow  that  particular  crop;  and  in  this  way  you  may  keep 
on  with  the  different  kinds  until  you  impoverish  the  whole,  and  it 
becomes  barren.  So  it  may  be  with  the  horse;  he  maybe  fed  on 
one  kind  of  food,  deficient  in  the  requisites  to  form  bone  or  muscle, 
while  the  other  organs  of  the  body  lay  dormant,  for  the  want  of  the 
healthy  and  invigorating  influence  of  them;  or,  vice  versa,  when  he 
will  appear  raw-boned,  carrying  but  little  flesh. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  279 

nature  will  keep  it  burning;  and  you  will  save  the  extra 
wear  and  tear  of  the  machinery  consequent  on  raising  it 
too  high. 


REMARKS 

ON  THE  COLLECTION  AND  PRESERVATION  OF  VEGETABLES,  FOR 

MEDICINAL  PURPOSES. 

It  is  proper  to  observe,  that  roots  should  be  gathered  . 
before  the  sap  rises  in  the  spring,  or  after  it  returns  in 
the  autumn,  and  taken  from  the  dryest  land  where  they 
grow.  In  washing  let  them  remain  in  water  as  short  a 
time  as  possible,  or  dry  them  without  washing,  and  clean 
them  with  a  brush  afterwards.  Those  which  lose  their 
virtue  by  drying,  may  be  kept  in  dry  sand.  Leaves  and 
flowers  should  be  gathered  in  dry  weather,  after  the  dew 
is  off,  and  while  they  are  in  full  vigor;  they  may  be  tied 
up  in  little  bundles  and  hung  up  to  dry,  but  a  belter  way 
is  to  dry  them  more  quickly  by  the  gentle  heat  of  a  stove, 
or  fire  place.  Seeds  and  fruit  are  generally  to  be  gath- 
ered when  ripe;  sprouts  after  the  bud  is  open;  stalks  in 
autumn;  and  barks,  in  spring  and  autumn.  Overgrown 
herbs,  should  not  be  chosen,  as  they  are  not  so  good  for 
medicinal  purposes  as  those  of  a  medium  growth. 


280  ayery's  own  fakrier. 


RECIPES. 

Since  I  commenced  writing,  experience  has  taught  me 
that  the  swamp,  or  black  ash  extract,  is  an  excellent 
remedy  for  sores  and  pimples,  or  gathering  in  the  ears, 
by  only  applying  a  few  drops;  and  can  be  used  success- 
full}^  in  taking  off  ringbones,  &c.,  (as  well  as  removing 
warts)  when  diluted  with  a  small  part  of  turpentine,  or 
tincture  of  cantharides:  and  when  used  alone  has  taken 
them  off  without  breaking  the  skin,  or  leaving  any 
blemish.  I  obtain  it  by  boiling  the  inner  bark  of  small 
trees  or  roots,  until  the  strength  is  out,  then  strain  and 
boil  down  (o  the  consistence  of  thick  syrup.  For  the 
ears  dilute  with  water. 

ABORTION. 

The  mare  has  often  been  lost  by  aborting.  The  best 
thing  you  can  do  for  her  in  this  situation,  is  to  inject  up 
the  vagina  a  strong  infusion  made  by  steeping  the 
common  red  raspberry  leaves  in  water,  using  it  as  warm 
as  practicable;  keep  her  warm,  and  give  her  rest,  together 
wilh  a  cooling  diet. 

FOR  ACUTE  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS,  OR  INFLAMMATORY 

COLIC. 

You  may  give  the  horse  a  large  spoonfull  of  equal 
parts  of  sulphuric  ether  and  laudanum.  Or  if  you  do  not 
really  know  what  the  difficulty  is,  half  the  quantity  will 
do  him  no  harm;  or  you  may  give  him  mint  or  sage  tea; 
and  if  he  is  in  great  distress,  give  pepperjnint  essence, 


avery's  own  farrier.  281 

camphor  and  paregoric,  a  spoonfull  of  each  in  warm 
water,  sweetened,  which  will  either  cure  your  horse,  or 
ease  him  until  you  have  time  to  send  for  advice. 

QARROTSk 

The  orange  carrot  is  cultivated  in  gardens,  and  is  well 
known  to  every  one.  The  root  of  which  scraped  and 
wilted  with  hot  vinegar,  is  good  made  into  a  poultice, 
with  or  without  Indian  meal,  to  subdue  inflammation  and 
swelling;  and  when  mixed  with  pulverised  charcoal,  is 
good  to  prevent  mortification. 

V 

CORKS. 

A  very  good  paint  to  keep  out  dirt  and  cold  from 
corks,  is  made  by  melting  equal  parts  of  mutton  tallow, 
and  India  rubber  together,  and  then  paint  or  fill  the 
wound  with  it;  for  the  want  of  the  rubber  use  tar,  and 
when  you  wish  it  to  heal,  add  a  little  rosin  and  honey. 


282  avery's  own  farrier. 


WAH  WHOOP. 

Some  of  our  best  professional  men  have  said  to  me, 
that  it  was  folly  for  any  one  to  suppose  that  the  Indian 
doctors  knew  half  as  much  about  the  healing  art  as  the 
scientific  scholar,  who  had  all  the  advantage  of  our  medi- 
cal institutions,  in  this  civilized  life,  with  a  full  view 
of  the  arts  and  sciences  before  him.  As  regards  anatomy 
and  diseases,  I  am  willing  to  admit  that  they  are  right 
in  their  conclusions;  but  as  the  Indian  has  had  the  book 
of  nature  only  for  his  study,  it  has  enabled  him  to  dis- 
cover the  medicinal  properties  of  a  great  many  plants, 
roots  and  barks,  that  are  useful  in  disease  (which  the 
more  learned  have  overlooked  in  their  aspirations  to 
grasp  great  things);  which  goes  to  show  that  the  Indian 
is  not  void  of  intellect,  and  that  want  and  *'  poverty  is 
the  mother  of  invention."  Therefore,  I  shall  add  here 
the  names  and  use  of  such  vegetables  as  I  have  in  my 
possession  (together  with  some  of  my  own),  in  plain 
English,  as  they  were  translated  from  the  Indian  tongue, 
by  one  that  had  spent  some  twenty  years  of  his  life  in 
travel  and  traffic  among  the  Indian  tribes,  which  may 
be  of  great  use  to  some  in  veterinary  practice,  both  in 
urban,  suburban  and  rural  districts. 

"Roots  and  herbs  are  at  the  command  of  every  one,  and 
nature's  prescriptions  are  all  free  gratis.  She  demands  not 
your  money  for  her  services,  but,  like  a  kind  patron  and  friend, 


avery's  own  farrier.  283 

invites  you  to  partake  of  her  blessing,  and  her  only  reward  is  to 
come  and  taste  more."  , 

No.   1. — White  Oak  Bark  and  Buds. 

The  inner  bark  of  the  white  oak  pounded  and  boiled 
with  oats,  and  applied  as  a  poultice  to  any  wound,  cut 
or  sore,  is  a  very  good  remedy.  The  leaves  and  buds, 
when  steeped,  are  said  to  be  a  sovereign  remedy  for 
dysentery  or  a  relaxed  state  of  the  bowels.  A  handfull 
of  flour,  made  from  the  dried  acorns,  mixed  with  the  feed 
of  animals,  will  stop  dysentery.  i 

No.  2. — Snake  Root. 

Is  found  in  both  dry  and  moist  wood  land;  the  stalk 
and  leaves  somewhat  resemble  the  stinging  wood-nettle, 
only  the  leaf  is  smaller  and  more  of  an  oval  form.  It 
blossoms  on  the  top  of  the  branches,  and  they  are  white; 
the  root  is  brown  and  bushy,  and  of  a  very  strong  aro- 
matic taste  and  smell.  This  is  a  very  powerful,  stimu- 
lating root,  bracing,  healing  and  cleansing,  cheering  and 
animating  the  whole  system.  Makes  an  excellent  cordial; 
put  in  wine  or  old  cider. 

No.  3. — Indian  Wormwood. 

It  grows  along  watery  places;  it  has  several  stalks  to- 
gether, two  or  three  feet  high,  with  long,  narrow,  dark 
green  leaves,  which  are  extremely  bitter  to  the  taste; 
above  the  leaf  it  has  blows.  This  herb  is  said  to  be  both 
anthelmintic  and  cathartic;  the  pulverized  herb,  given  in 
small  quantities,  is  good  to  remove  worms;  the  herb 
steeped  is  a  very  quick  and  powerful  physic,  though  very 
mild  in  respect  to  griping;  the  top  only  is  used. 


284  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  4. — Pepper  Root. 

This  grows  in  a  rich,  moist  soil,  generally  among 
beech,  maple,  and  basswood  timber,  and  is  generally 
known,  the  top  being  sometimes  used  for  greens;  the 
root  is  white  and  jagged,  of  a  warm,  peppery  taste.  The 
root  bruised  and  taken  in  spirits  eases  pains  in  the 
stomach,  sides,  and  bowels.  The  pounded  root  applied 
to  the  spider  cancer,  will  frequently  kill  them  in  a  short 
tifiie,  so  that  they  may  be  taken  out  by  the  roots. 

No.  5. — Larger  Golden  Thread, 

Is  a  vine  growing  on  banks  of  rivers  and  intervales. 
It  is  similar  to  Jacob's  ladder,  and  winds  itself  around  the 
first  bush  it  comes  to,  like  the  bitter  sweet.  The  root 
runs  under  ground  some  distance,  about  the  size  of  a  pipe 
stem.  It  is  quite  bitter,  and  has  nearly  the  virtues  of 
the  little  golden  thread,  and  is,  of  course  good  for  canker 
in  the  mouth,  and  in  all  cases  where  a  little  bitter  is  re- 
quired to  strengthen  digestion,  and  cause  a  good  appetite. 

No.  6.—  Horsetail. 

This  plant  has  a  bushy  top,  full  of  joints,  resembling 
a  horse  tail  from  which  it  took  its  name.  It  is  powerful 
to  stop  or  staunch  blood,  either  inward  or  outward;  it 
healeth  inward  ulcers;  it  is  good  to  heal  green  wounds, 
and  cures  ruptures. 

No.  7. — Gravel  Weed. 

Grows  on  dry  land  among  wintergreens;  the  stalks  or 
vines  run  along  on  the  ground,  and  take  new  root;  the 
leaf  is  oval,  of  a  pale  green,  thick  and  rough,  not  hairy, 
as  wide  as  a  spoon  bowl,  but  not  so  long,  and  bears  a 


avery's  own  farrier.  285 

small,  white  blossom;  it  grows  in  little  mats,- like  cam- 
momile,  with  the  leaves  thick  together,  almost  one  top 
of  the  other.  This,  in  truth,  is  a  lithontriptic;  the  leaves 
and  vines  steeped  (not  boiled)  bring  away  the  sand,  and 
finally  dissolve  the  stone. 

No.  8. — Hemp. 

This  plant  is  good  for  something  beside  making  ropes. 
The  seeds  steeped,  are  good  to  remove  wind  from  the 
stomach;  it  removes  obstructions  to  the  bile,  and  is  very 
effective  to  kill  worms  in  man  or  beast;  the  steeped  juice 
dropped  into  the  ears  kills  the  worms  in  them,  and  drags 
out  earwigs;  a  preparation  of  the  roots  is  good  to  allay 
inflammation  in  the  head,  &c. 

No.  9. — Artichokes. 

A  decoction  of  the  juice  of  artichokes  is  good  to  open 
the  passages  of  the  urine;  and  of  course  it  must  be  good 
for  stone  or  gravel  in  the  bladder. 

No.  10. — May  Weed, 

Is  an  excellent  herb,  and  grows  in  door  yardvS,  and  by 
the  sides  of  the  road;  it  is  of  a  pectoral  nature,  and  is 
good  for  a  pain  in  the  side;  a  strong  tea  of  it,  drank 
freely,  is  good  for  a  cold. 

No.  11. — Saffron. 

This  is  principally  cultivated  in  gardens,  and  has  a 
bright,  yellow  blow,  and  is  universally  known.  It  is 
good  made  into  tea,  to  cleanse  the  fluids  of  the  stomach, 
and  guard  against  sickness,  and  for  bathing  any  affected 
outward  part.     It  is  also  good  to  drive  out  humors;  with 


286  avery's  own  farrier. 

other  vegrtables  it   makes  an   excellent  drink  for  a  dis- 
ordered stomach. 

No.  12. — Red  Rose. 

This  is  the  queen  of  all  flowers,  and,  though  short 
lived,  falls  not  a  useless  sacrifice.  The  leaves  dried  and 
steeped  in  milk,  are  very  cooling,  quieting  and  good  for 
sore  ej'es,  and  useful  in  allaying  inflammation. 

No.   13. — Vervine. 

Has  two  colors,  blue  and  white;  is  a  good  medicine  in 
fevers,  and  for  all  consumptive  complaints.  It  makes  a 
harmless  emetic,  and  may  be  taken  powdered;  mixed 
with  thoroughwort,  or  made  into  a  tea,  is  good  for  a 
weak  stomach. 

No.   14. — Witch  Hazel. 

This  is  a  small  bush  or  tree,  it  grows  in  swamps  and 
wettish  land,  by  the  sides  of  creeks  and  rivers.  A  tea 
made  of  this,  and  drank  freely,  is  good  to  stop  bleeding 
at  the  stomach.  It  is  good  in  all  bowel  complaints;  the 
bark  boiled  in  milk  and  water,  is  good  for  those  afflicted 
with  strain  across  the  kidneys. 

No.  15. — Crowfoot  or  Buttercup. 

This  is  a  tuber-rooted,  perennial  plant,  very  common 
in  rich  meadows  and  moist  places;  it  grows  from  one  to 
two  feet  high,  and  has  a  very  glossy  flower.  Every 
part  of  this  plant  is  acrid.  Those  who  wish  to  endure 
the  pain  of  a  blister,  may  have  their  ends  gratified  by 
making  use  of  this  herb. 


avery's  own  farrier.  287 

No.   16. — Summer  Savory. 

Is  a  garden  herb,  and  has  a  hot,  pleasant  flavor. 
When  made  into  a  tea,  and  drank  fre^J  is  good  for  a 
cold;  is  very  soothing  to  nature,  and  rriay  be  used  with 
perfect  safety  in  any  disease,  of  man  or  beast. 

No.  17. — Currants. 

This  bush  is  too  well  known  to  need  a  description, 
being  found  in  almost  every  garden.  The  leaves  made 
into  a  tea,  are  good  for  the  dropsy.  As  a  constant  drink, 
it  promotes  a  free  passage  of  the  urine. 

No.  18. — Sweet  Fern. 

Is  a  small  shrub  that  grows  common  in  pastures,  and 
by  the  road  side,  in  many  places;  the  bark  of  this  bush 
steeped  in  cider,  is  good  for  jaundice  (or  yellow  water). 
Taken  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  it  will  give  a  start  to 
the  blood,  and  create  a  good  appetite.  A  tea  made  of 
it  will -often  answer  a  good  purpose  for  dysentery. 

No.   19. — Plantain. 

There  are  few,  perhaps,  who  know  the  virtues  of  this 
simple  though  useful  plant.  It  is  good  to  cure  poison, 
caused  by  ivy,  dogwood,  and  the  bites  of  venomous  ani- 
mals, and  will  drive  away  humors  by  applying  the  juice. 

No.  20. — Strawberry  Leaves. 

These  need  no  description.  The  leaves  steeped  in 
boiling  water,  and  drank  freely  of,  are  good  for  inward 
fevers;  and  a  few  of  the  leaves  chewed,  and  the  juice 
swallow^ed,  will  stop  the  dysentery. 


288  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  21. — High  Deerweed. 

This  is  generally  to  be  found  in  newly  cleared  lands, 
from  two  to  three  feet  high,  and  has  on  its  stalk,  towards 
the  top,  a  spindle  of  red  blossoms;  the  leaves  are  long 
and  quite  narrow.  This  is  good  for  all  inward  inflam- 
mation and  fevers;  it  is  of  a  cooling  nature. 

No.  22 — Eyebright. 

The  common  eyebright  is  a  small,  low  herb,  usually 
rising  about  a  span  high.  It  has  generally  but  one  black- 
ish green  stalk;  it  spreads  from  the  bottom  into  several 
branches,  on  which  are  set  small  leaves,  which  are  nearly 
round  and  pointed,  of  a  dark  green  color,  and  finely 
notched  about  the  edges;  they  are  thick,  and  two  always 
set  together  at  the  joints,  the  leaves  turned  upwards; 
from  the  middle  spring  forth  small  white  flowers,  mixed 
with  purple  or  yellow  spots  or  stripes.  It  has  small  seeds 
in  round  heads.  It  has  small,  slender  roots,  with  thready 
ends,  and  may  be  found  in  meadows  and  grassy*places. 
The  juice,  or  distilled  water  of  this  herb,  taken  inwardly, 
in  white  wine,  or  put  into  the  eyes,  is  good  for  all  things 
causing  dimness  of  sight;  or  it  may  be  taken,  in  a  powder 
of  the  dry  herb,  mixed  with  a  little  sugar,  mace,  or  fen- 
nel seed;  has  a  powerful  eflTect  to  help  and  restore  sight, 
decayed  through  age;  it  has  been  known  to  restore  sight 
to  those  who  have  been  nearly  blind. 

No.  2.3. — Dog  Acna. 

This  bush  grows  in  various  soils,  and  is  covered  with 
a  smooth,  speckled  bark,  of  a  light  and  dark  green.  It 
branches  out  very  much  like  the  dogwood.     The  bark  of 


Avery's  own  farrier.  289 

this,  made  into  a  tea,  and  used  as  a  wash,  is  good  for  a 
canker,  and  combined  with  the  bittersweet,  makes  an 
excellent  healing  salve. 

No.  24. — Running  Hemlock, 

Is  a  little,  low  bush,  (he  leaves  resembling  the  com- 
mon or  tall  hemlock  that  grows  wild  in  the  woods,  of  a 
light  green  color,  and  has  a  small  red  berry.  These  ber- 
ries are  good  for  a  w^eak  stomach;  the  bush  or  vine  is 
good,  boiled  in  water,  to  cure  swollen  limbs. 

"  By  the  image  of  every  herb,  the  ancients  first  found 
out  their  virtues.  Modern  writers  laugh  at  them  for  it; 
but  I  can  not  (says  one)  but  wonder  how  the  virtues  of 
herbs  came  at  first  to  be  found  out,  or  known,  if  not  by 
their  signatures.  The  moderns  had  them  from  the  an- 
cients; the  ancients  nor  Indians  had  no  writings  nor 
books  to  obtain  them  from."  But  what  an  improvement 
has  been,  and  remains  to  be  made  by  the  study  of  the 
leafy  pages  of  this  great  book  of  "  Nature,"  after  it  has 
been  once  opened  to  our  view.  Reader,  please  look  at 
the  index  of  this  great  work,  which  you  will  find  in  the 
expression  of  every  leaf,  and  see  if  it  does  not  lead  you 
to  something  more  useful  and  interesting.  Oh,  how 
cheering,  animating,  and  elevating  it  is  to  the  mind  of 
mortals! 

No.  25. — For  the  Bite  of  a  Dog,  or  Pricking  of  a  Thorn. 

Take  green  leaves  of  hoarhound,  bruise,  and  boil  them 
in  hog's  lard  into  an  ointment,  and  apply  it  to  the  wound. 
Continue  this  for  a  short  time,  and  the  swelling  will 
abate,  and  the  sore  be  completely  healed. 

25 


290  avery's  own  fakrier. 

No.  26. — To  TAKE  A  Film  from  the  Eye. 

Take  sugar  of  lead,  make  it  very  fine,  blow  a  little  of 
it  into  the  eye,  morning  and  evening,  by  means  of  an  oat 
straw,  and  when  the  film  is  nearly  consumed,  apply  a  drop 
of  hen's  oil  once  or  twice  a  day  until  well. 

No.  27.— ^OR  A  Cough  or  Phthisic. 

Smoking  the  dried  leaves  of  rosemary,  shred  small,  in 
a  tobacco  pipe,  will  help  those  troubled  with  a  cough  or 
phthisic,  or  of  a  consumptive  habit,  by  warming  and 
drying  the  thin  distillations  which  cause  those  diseases. 

No.  28. — For  the  Heart  Disease. 

Make  a  decoction  of  the  dried  leaves  of  red  roses  with 
wine,  and  apply  it  to  the  region  of  the  heart,  with  a 
sponge,  or  let  the  leaves  remain  in,  and  bind  them  on  over 
where  your  heart  beats,  shifting  them  often  till  you  find 
relief. 

No.  29.— For  a  Burn. 

Take  an  oniun  and  cut  it  in  halves,  warm  it  a  little 
(but  not  roast  it),  and  bind  it  on  the  affected  part;  it 
will  stop  the  soreness  and  the  inflammation,  by  drawing 
out  the  humors,  which  always  accompany  a  burn  if  not 
prevented. 

No.  30. — To  Cure  Vegetable  Poison. 

Take  yellow-blowed  celandine,  hawk  weed  and  toad 
plantain,  equal  parts — bruise  them  fine,  and  boil  them  in 
milk  suflBcient  to  get  the  strength  of  the  vegetables. 
"Wash  the  aflfected  part  with  this  several  times   a   day, 


avery's  own  farrier.  291 

and  drink  bitters  of  the  Indian  milk  weed  (bitter  root), 
steeped  in  gin,  to  keep  it  from  striking  to  the  stomach. 
This  will  physic  the  blood  and  cure  the  disorder.  A 
simple  and  effective  remedy. 

No.  31. — Strengthening  Plasters. 

Good  for  man  or  beast.  Take  a  pitch  pine  knot,  boil 
it  in  water  till  the  gum  is  out;  then  let  it  cool,  and  take 
off  the  pitch.  Spread  a  plaster  of  this  on  soft  leather, 
and  apply  it  wherever  it  may  be  wanted.  If  it  is  too 
powerful,  temper  it  with  a  little  rosin  or  beeswax. 
Hemlock  gum  is  good  for  a  like  purpose. 

No.  32. — For  Dropsy. 

Take  one  pound  each  of  prickly  ash  bark  and  bark  of 
sassafras  root,  feverwood  bush  half  a  ^und,  four  ounces 
of  parsley  roots,  and  the  same  of  the  bark  of  black 
birch,  and  of  horse  radish  roots,  and  three  ounces  of 
garlics;  boil  them  all  in  three  gallons  of  small  beer; 
drink  nearly  a  gill  three  times  a  day,  or  a  pint  is  a  dose 
for  a  horse.  It  is  a  powerful  diaphoretic,  invigorating 
cordial;  no  better  can  be  given  for  the  above  disease. 

No.  33. — For  Weakness  or  General  Debility  of  the 

Whole  System. 

Take  of  lovage  root,  comfrey  root,  each  half  a  pound, 
and  burdock  root  four  ounces,  spikenard  root  two  ounces, 
to  about  two  gallons  of  water;  boil  them  two  hours; 
strain  off  and  continue  to  boil  down  to  two  quarts,  then 
add  half  a  pint  of  the  best  Holland  gin,  and  one  pound 
of  honey,  or  loaf  sugar;  put   it    in   a  bottle  and  cork 


292  avery's  own  farrier. 

it  tight  for  eight  and  forty  hours,  when  it  will  be  fit  for 
use.  Dose,  a  tablespoonfull  three  times  a  day  before  eat- 
ing, or  one  gill  will  answer  for  a  dose  for  the  horse. 
This  has  proved  beneficial  after  every  other  remedy  was 
unavailing. 

No.  34. — For  a  Cough. 

Take  a  small  handfuU  of  hoarhound  and  of  slippery 
elm  bark  (the  brittle  kind),  and  two  tablespoonsfuU  of 
sage,  and  one  of  saffron,  simmer  together,  strain  oflf;  add 
half  a  pint  of  molasses,  and  simmer  again  two  hours, 
with  a  moderate  heat,  and  while  it  is  hot,  add  half  a  pint 
of  the  best  Hollands.  Dose,  three  times  a  day,  com- 
mencing with  a  tablespoonfull,  and  increase  as  you  like; 
this  is  a  safe  and  reliable  remedy  for  a  cough,  for  man 
or  horse.  * 

No.  35. — Cure  for  the  Asthma. 

Difficult  cases  of  this  complaint  may  be  cured,  by  taking 
two  ounces  each  of  elecampane  root,  sweet  flag  root, 
spikenard  root,  and  the  same  of  common  chalk;  beat  them 
in  a  mortar  until  very  fine,  then  adding  one  pound  of 
honey,  and  beat  them  all  together;  take  a  teaspoonfull 
three  or  four  times  a  day.  A  tablespoonfull  may  be  given 
to  a  horse  to  advantage  three  times  a  day,  by  working 
into  a  ball. 

No.  36. — For  the  same,  or  Heaves. 

Take  a  seed  bole  of  the  skunk  cabbage,  that  grows 
close  to  the  ground,  at  the  bottom  of  #the  leaves;  if  this 
can  not  be  obtained,  use  the  wild  turnip  (wake  robin) 
with  a  little   lobelia   seed;  stew  this  in  hen's  fat  (after 


avery's  own  farrier.  293 

cutting  it  up  fine)  four  or  five  hours,  till  it  becomes  nearly 
dry;  take  a  teaspoonfull  for  a  dose,  or  a  tablespoonfull, 
in  a  ball,  will  be  a  dose  for  the  horse  that  is  troubled  with 
a  cough.  Make  a  syrup  of  the  queen  of  the  meadow 
roots,  and  white  swamp  honeysuckle  blossoms;  sweeten 
this  with  honey  or  loaf  sugar;  add  to  a  quart  of  this  syrup 
half  a  pint  of  brandy.  To  be  given  once  a  day  with  the 
above  for  heaves;  one  gill  will  be  a  fair  dose  for  this 
purpose;  cure  warranted  or  no  pay. 

No.  37. — For  a  Sore  Throat. 

Steam  the  throat  with  hot  water,  in  which  hops  have 
been  infused.'  After  the  hops  have  been  scalded  in  vin- 
egar, apply  them  externally  to  the  diseased  part  of  the 
throat. 

No.  38. — For  Stoppage  of  Urine,  Urinary  Balls, 

Take  a  handfull  of  buds  of  currant  bushes,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  honey  bees;  steep  them  very  strong  in 
hot  water,  give  two  spoonsfull  for  a  dose  every  half  hour. 
For  the  horse,  take  one  pint  of  this  tea  and  boil  down 
till  it  begins  to  thicken,  then  cool,  and  add  about  the 
same  quantity  of  balsam  of  fir;  work  into  five  or  six  balls, 
one  of  which  will  have  the  desired  effect.  These  balls 
may  be  coated  with  sugar,  and  kept  for  use  any  length 
of  time — quite  equal  to  the  celebrated  Murcum  or  Buck 
ball.  The  common  white  mulberry  bush  affords  a  tea, 
when  freely  given,  that  is  good  for  all  urinary  obstruc- 
tions, and  facilitates  the  operation  of  other  medicines; 
and  is  perfectly  harmless  in  its  operation. 


294  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  39. — To  CURE  Canker  in  the  Mouth. 

Take  the  scrapings  of  the  blackberry  briar  root,  a  few 
sumach  berries,  a  little  saffron,  a  little  sage,  and  some 
goldthread  or  yellow  root,  put  with  these  a  little  alum, 
some  vinegar  and  honey;  simmer  the  whole  on  a  very 
slow  fire,  after  adding  a  little  water.  Wet  the  mouth 
often  with  this;  it  seldom  if  ever  fails  to  cure  the  worst 
canker  in  the  mouth,  and  is  an  excellent  wash  for  the 
horse's  sore  moulh  in  cases  of  Black  Tongue,  &c. 

No.  40. — A  Plaster  to  ease  the  pain  of  Felons. 

Obtain  the  pitch  from  a  pitch-pine  knot,  cut  from  the 
side  of  an  old  log  that  lies  next  the  ground,  by  boiling 
it.  Then  boil  four  ounces  of  strong  tobacco;  after  the 
strength  is  out,  strain,  and  boil  the  liquor  until  it  is  thick; 
then  add  the  pitch,  and  simmer  over  a  moderate  fire, 
stirring  it  all  the  while  until  it  forms  a  salve;  make  a 
plaster  of  this,  and  wherever  the  sore  is,  lay  it  on  above 
the  next  joint.  This  will  ease  the  pain  in  a  very  short 
time.  Dress  the  sore  in  the  mean  time  with  any  other 
kind  of  healing  salve.  This  also  is  a  good  application, 
and  a  useful  plaster  for  horse  flesh,  in  inflammation  of 
any  local  wound,  placed  on  or  above  the  wound. 

No.  41. — A  GOOD  Salve  for  Bruises,  &c. 

Take  one  pound  of  spikenard  root,  one  pound  of  to- 
bacco, and  half  a  pound  of  comfrey  root;  boil  these  in  six 
quarts  of  chamber  lye,  till  almost  dry,  then  press  out  the 
juice,  and  add  to  it  pitch  or  beeswax  enough  when  sim- 
mered together  to  make  it  the  consistency  of  a  salve; 
apply  this  to  the  parts  affected. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  295 

No.  42. — To  STOP  Blood  from  a  Fresh  Wound. 

An  Indian  remedy.  Take  three  different  kinds  of 
herbs,  you  need  not  be  particular  what  they  are;  chew 
them  all  together,  and  apply  the  contents,  with  the  spit- 
tle to  the  wound.  This  remedy  they  use  for  man  and 
beast  (with  great  success,  they  say);  it  is  simple  and 
easy,  being  always  at  hand. 

No.  43. — To  MAKE  Casler's  Liniment. 

To  one  gallon  of  alcohol,  add  one  pound  of  cedar  oil; 
half  a  pound  of  squaw  weed  oil  (blue  blow);  half  a  pound 
of  oil  origanum;  half  a  pound  of  wormwood  oil;  half  a 
pound  of  spearmint;  half  a  pint  tincture  of  lobelia;  and 
one  ounce  of  camphor  gum;  and  color  with  red  sanders. 

No.  44. — -To  MAKE  Guiwit's  Liniment. 

To  one  gallon  of  alcohol,  add  half  a  pound  of  wormwood 
oil;  half  a  pound  of  origanum  oil;  four  ounces  of  guru 
myrrh;  one  ounce  oil  of  anise;  and  two  ounces  of  cam- 
phor gum. 

No.  45. — Avery's  Cure  for  Corns. 

Take  the  extract  of  swamp  ash  bark,  off  from  the 
roots;  add  a  very  little  spirits  of  turpentine;  apply  this 
three  or  four  times  — •  or  a  strong  lye  made  from  the 
ashes  of  the  same  wood.  Most  corns  will  be  removed  in 
this  way,  without  giving  any  pain.  Where  the  above  is 
not  suflSciently  strong  for  the  purpose,  or  for  ringbones, 
add  a  very  little  corrosive  sublimate  and  laudanum. 


296  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  46. — Avery's  Eye  Wash. 

An  excellent  remedy  for  inflamed  eyes:  clear,  cold 
water;  apply  often. 

No.  47. — Stafford's  Cordial  for  a  Weak  Stomach. 

A  good  remedy  for  man  or  beast,  try  it.  Take  pitch 
pine  wood  and  shave  oflf  in  thin  shavings;  put  these  in  a 
glass  bottle  and  cover  them  with  alcohol;  let  it  stand 
fourteen  days,  then  turn  off,  and  reduce  with  water  on 
taking;  take  a  teaspoonfull  three  times  a  day;  add  to 
each  dose  six  or  seven  drops  essence  of  peppermint. 

No.  48. — To  make  Turner's  Liniment  for  Breach. 

Comfrey  root,  boiled  in  vinegar,  and  spirits  of  turpen- 
tine, and  as  much  alum  as  can  be  dissolved  in  the  same. 
This  may  be  used  both  outwardly  and  inwardly  with 
safety;  and  is  a  good  medicine  for  the  above  use. 

No.  49. — To  MAKE  Good  Advice  acceptable  and  useful. 

It  must  be  administered  with  a  kind  and  friendly 
motive,  and  must  not  lack  of  previous  good  example, 
on  the  part  of  the  one  giving  the  dose. — Avery^s. 

No.  50. — For  a  very  Weak  Stomach  of  long  standing. 

An  Indian  recipe;  look  at  it.  In  the  first  place  omit 
taking  all  kinds  of  medicine  whatever.  Take  rye,  wash 
it  clean,  and  boil  it  in  the  same  manner  as  you  would 
rice;  make  this  your  constant  diet;  be  sure  and  not  take 
any  other  kind  of  food  whatever,  till  you  are  satisfied  you 
can  bear  it;  drink  a  tea  of  white  pine  bark,  and  slippery 
elm.     This  is  said   upon    good  authority   to  have  cured 


avery's  own  farrier.  297 

persons  who  have  been  troubled  with  a  weak  stomach  for 
years. 

No.  51. — For  the  Dropsy. 

From  the  same  author.  Take  the  juice  of  the  white 
pond  lily  root;  temper  it  with  barley  meal,  and  bake  it 
for  ordinary  bread.  This,  he  says,  has  been  known  to 
effect  a  cure  when  medicine  failed  to  do  it.  This  is  so 
harmless,  there  can  be  no  danger  in  making  the  trial. 
Now  here  are  two  important  diseases  that  we  are  liable 
to,  said  to  have  been  cured  by  mere  dieting,  as  it  were, 
which  coincides  precisely  with  what  I  have  witnessed  in 
the  horse,  by  a  change  of  food;  from  high  to  low,  or 
from  low  to  high.  But  this  is  not  always  all  that  is  ne- 
cessary to  effect  a  cure,  but  when  you  can  get  rid  of  any 
disorder  by  a  systematic  diet  without  medicine,  reason 
teaches,  it  is  the  best  way  of  doing  it. 

No.  52. — For  a  Sprain. 

Take  two  spoonsful!  of  honey,  the  same  quantity  of 
salt,  and  the  whites  of  four  hen's  eggs.  Beat  the  whole 
together  for  an  hour,  then  let  it  set  an  hour,  and  after 
this  anoint  the  sprain  with  the  oil  that  will  be  produced 
from  the  mixture,  keeping  the  affected  parts  well  rglled 
with  a  good  bandage.  This  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  best 
things  ever  known  for  a  sprained  ankle;  and  will  readily 
relieve  the  horse  of  locked  ankles,  &c. 

No.  53. — For  the  Rheumatism. 

Take  a  handfull  of  horse-radish  roots,  the  same  quantity 
of  prince  of  pine,  and  a  little  of  prickly  ash  bark,  ele- 
campane roots,  bittersweet  root  bark,  wild  cherry  tree 


298  avery's  own  farrier. 

bark,  mustard  seed,  and  a  pint  of  tar  water;  put  this  into 
two  quarts  of  brandy,  and  drink  a  wine  glassfull  twice 
a  day  before  eating;  wash  the  parts  affected,  with  salt 
and  rum,  by  a  hot  fire. 

No.  54. — For  Thrush  or  Corns  in  Foundered  Feet,  &c. 

Clean  the  hoof  well,  getting  all  the  dirt  out  of  the  rot 
on  each  side  of  the  frog,  by  means  of  a  sharp  pointed 
scratcher,  every  evening,  and  turn  in  a  little  melted  white 
pine  turpentine  for  a  few  days  (for  the  want  of  this  put 
in  salt),  and  in  the  morning,  turn  in  tallow  and  rubber 
melted  together;  this  forms  a  coating  that  will  keep  out 
the  dirt  during  the  day.  If  you  stuff  them  at  night  do  it 
with  clay. 

No.  55. — The  True  Pulse. 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  the  pulse,  the 
horse  should  be  approached  very  gently  and  cautiously, 
as  the  excitement  caused  by  harsh  and  loud  words,  or 
the  whip,  will  raise  the  pulse  from  five  to  ten  beats  per 
minute,  he  is  so  excitable,  especially  when  diseased. 

No.  56. — Renewal  of  Life. 

I  have  seen  the  horse,  when  he  was  very  much  troubled 
to  breathe,  and  given  up  to  die  by  sorac;  restored  to 
health,  by  giving  him  a  dose  of  the  camphor,  pepper- 
mint essence,  and  adding  a  teaspoonfull  of  the  buck's 
horn  (freshly  rasped),  and  proper  treatment  afterwards. 
The  hot  drops  may  be  used  afterwards,  or  before  for 
want  of  the  former,  but  this  is  the  best  on  such  occasions 
of  anything  that  can  be  given,  and  may  be  given  with 


avery's  own  farrier.  299 

safety  let  the  disease  be  what  it  may.  Perhaps  there 
are  no  two  diseases  that  the  horse  is  liable  to  in  the  first 
stages  thereof,  that  is  so  difficult  to  distinguish  one  from 
the  other,  as  inflammation  of  the  bow^els  and  of  the  lungs; 
and  add  to  these  that  of  spasmodic  colic;  these  make 
three  as  dangerous  ills  as  they  are  subject  to.  The  colic, 
however,  is  easily  distinguished  from  inflammation,  by 
being  sudden  in  its  attack,  and  having  intervals  of  rest 
and  ease,  with  the  extremities  not  much  altered  as  to 
warmth,  and  the  pulse  but  little  changed,  only  evidently 
fuller.  In  colic,  the  above  medicine  may  be  given  with 
the  best  result;  laudanum  and  dried  sweet  flag  root, 
grated  in,  may  be  added  to  advantage,  and  physic  in  this 
case  will  be  proper.  But  in  inflammation  of  the  bowels 
the  order  is  reversed  from  that  of  colic.  The  legs  and 
ears  are  cold,  the  pulse  much  quickened,  and  the  attack 
and  pain  is  more  steady — in  this  case,  as  well  as  in 
inflammation  of  the  lungs,  copious  bleeding  may  be  re- 
sorted to  with  beneficial  results  to  the  patient,  while 
physicing  would  prove  more  disastrous.  But  to  distin- 
guish between  inflammation  of  the  bowels  and  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs,  recourse  must  be  had  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  horse  stands,  and  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
nose  (which  is  the  thermometer  for  the  lungs).  With 
inflammation  of  the  lungs,  they  will  stand  stiff,  and  wide 
apart  with  the  forward  legs^  so  as  to  give  as  much  room 
as  possible  for  the  lungs,  and  always  choosing  to  stand 
up — while  with  inflammation  of  the  bowels  they  are 
inclined  to  lie  down;  with  inflammation  of  the  Jungs 
their  breathing  is  not  so  regular  (as  that  of  the  bowels), 
being  more  hurried  at  times,  and  the  membrane  of  the 


300  avery's  own  farrier. 

nose  a  darker  color,  and  as  the  disease  progresses  of  a 
more  purple  hue  or  tinge  in  spots;  and  in  both  of  these 
diseases  the  animal  is  greatly  weakened  and  distressed 
by  exercise.  While  in  colic,  the  strength  is  not  much 
affected,  and  relief  is  often  obtained  by  motion,  and  rub- 
bing the  belly. 

I  leave  for  others  to  designate  the  use  of  the  scalpel, 
in  dividing  the  skin,  flesh,  cords,  muscles,  tendons,  and 
fibres  of  the  animal,  &c. 

No.  57. — Lightning  Liniment. 

Good  for  all  nervous  affections,  rheumatism,  &c. 
Take  one  part  of  chloroform,  two  of  laudanum,  and  four 
of  spirits  of  turpentine;  mix  them  together  and  bathe 
the  legs,  back,  or  any  other  part  of  the  body,  where  the 
animal  is  in  great  agony,  and  it  will  afford  immediate 
relief. 

No.  58. — Mullen  Oil. 

Horsemen,  and  others,  attend.  This  is  not  the  least 
in  value,  if  it  is  towards  the  last  of  my  list.  Good  for 
inflammatory  rheumatism  or  any  kind  of  a  sore,  by  ap- 
plying it  to  the  part  affected.  Excellent  for  catarrh,  or 
glanders,  by  throwing  it  up  the  nostrils,  and  anointing 
the  temples  and  forehead.  I  obtain  it  by  picking  the 
blossoms  in  summer  and  placing  them  in  a  glass  bottle; 
when  full,  hang  it  up  in  a  warm  place  where  the  sun  can 
strike  it,  until  the  blossoms  are  decayed;  there  will  be 
an  oil  rise  on  top,  which  you  can  turn  off,  and  it  is  fit 
for  use.  This  is  the  Indian's  greatest  remedy  for  taking 
film  from  the  eye. 


avery's  own  farrier.  301 

No.  59. — For  Colt  Distemper,  or  Strangles. 

If  you  wish  to  apply  hot  fomentations,  steep  lobelia 
herb  in  vinegar,  and  bind  the  herb  on  the  throat  hot, 
after  bleeding. 

As  we  are  all  creatures  of  circumstance,  we  must  be 
governed,  in  part,  by  circumstances;  but  a  man  may  be 
brought  up  at  college,  and  spend  his  whole  life  in 
studying,  and  if  he  has  no  natural  capacity,  may 
fall  far  below  those  whom  nature  and  experience  have 
taught. 

"There  have  been  men,  from  the  earliest  ages  of  the 
world,  blesspd  with  the  sublimer  powers  of  genius;  who 
could,  as  it  were,  with  one  comprehensive  view,  grasp 
the  whole  circle  of  science,  and  leave  learning  and  art 
to  follow  after  them  in  vain."  Or  they  have  a  peculiar 
faculty  to  make  people  think  so.  And  yet,  you  will  find 
it  difficult  to  get  one  original  idea  from  them,  on  any 
subject  whatever,  that  is  calculated  to  benefit  you.  But 
this  need  not  hinder  any  one  else  from  improving  the 
capacity  given  him,  and  giving  it  the  right  direction  to 
prove  useful  to  his  fellow  man. 

No.  60. — Composition  for  Ringbone,  or  Bone  Spavin. 

Two  ounces  of  spirits  of  turpentine;  one  ounce  of 
oil  origanum;  one  ounce  of  corrosive  sublimate;  half  an 
ounce  of  opium;  and  half  an  ounce  of  camphor  gum. 
Mix  these  all  together  and  add  a  very  little  alcohol, 
and  it  is  fit  for  use. 

26 


302  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  61. — For  Rheumatic  Affections,  &c. 
Spirits  of  turpentine,  with  as  much  camphor  gum  as 
will  dissolve  in  it.     Good  brandy,  with  gum  guiac,  dis- 
solved in  it,  is  also  often   a   useful  application  for  this 
purpose. 

No.  62. — For  Bloat  in  Horses  or  Cattle. 

Give  one  gill  of  spirits  of  turpentine  in  two  or  three 
gills  of  water;  the  effect  is  instantaneous.  For  the  want 
of  this,  give  two  gills  of  melted  lard,  and  the  same  of 
new  milk,  well  mixed  before  being  given. 

No.  63. — For  Founder,  Stiffness,  &c., 

In  the  chest,  &c.;  add  to  the  horse's  feed,  a  handfull 
of  sunflower  seed,  once  a  day,  and  he  will  be  most  likely 
to  come  out  right  in  a  short  time. 

Steel  is  made  harder,  by  first  heating;  and  then  dip- 
ping it  in  water;  and  sometimes  rendered  tougher,  and 
not  so  liable  to  crack  in  working  it,  by  the  use  of  oil. 
It  is  true,  also,  that  it  may  be  made  too  hard,  or  left  too 
soft  by  the  workman,  to  answer  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  designed.  Therefore  experience,  as  well  as  skill,  is 
necessary  to  bring  this  art  to  any  degree  of  perfection. 
And  so  it  is,  in  tempering  the  iron  nerves  and  muscles 
of  the  animal;  for  when  any  part  the  body  is  raised 
to  a  great  heat  by  disease  or  any  other  cause,  it 
should  be  cooled  gradually  before  the  fire  consumes 
the  whole;  and  great  care  should  be  taken  in  the  cooling 
process,  whether  you  use  water  or  oil,  that  you  leave  a 
good  spring  temper. 


avery's  own  farrier.  303 

No.  64. — A  Poultice. 

In  cases  where  a  swelling  is  very  painful,  and  the 
object  is  to  relieve  the  animal  from  pain,  as  well  as  to 
relax  and  rot,  or  bring  it  to  a  head,  a  good  poultice  is 
made  by  boiling  equal  parts  of  soft  soap  and  tobacco 
together  a  short  time,  then  apply  warm,  after  thickening 
with  wheat  flour. 

No.  65. — Elecampane. 

This  root  when  dried  and  powdered,  is  good  for  a 
cough,  mixed  with  other  things,  or  alone,  but  it  is  not 
sufficient  alone  to  cure  an  old  chronic  cough.  Give  the 
horse  a  spoonfull  for  a  dose. 

No.  66. — To  Learn  a  Horse  to  Pace. 

Fasten  a  leaden  weight  of  some  three  or  four  pounds 
(prepared  so  as  not  to  hurt  the  leg),  just  above  the  ankle; 
ride  or  drive  the  horse  briskly,  pulling  the  reins  alter- 
nately at  the  same  time;  this  will  throw  him  into  a  pace; 
after  exercising  him  in  this  way  until  he  gets  the  desired 
gait,  you  may  change  the  weights  for  lighter  ones,  using 
him  in  this  way  for  a  short  time,  he  will  become  an  easy 
pacer. 

No.  67. — Where  Strong  Erhines  are  Wanted. 

In  cases  of  colds,  &c.,  use  the  dry  cayenne.  If  the 
object  is  to  only  make  him  sneeze  or  snort  out  the  mucus, 
as  it  will  not  have  this  effect,  when  mixed  wMth  the  oint- 
ment, but  only  help  locate  more  heat,  and  change  the 
action  of  those  mucus  membranes,  &c. 


304  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  68. — Wonderful,  but  True. 

For  any  kind  of  soreness  of  the  bowels,  caused  by 
colds,  colics,  strains  or  severe  purging,  the  camphor  root, 
either  dried  and  powdered,  or  steeped,  is  an  infallible 
remedy;  add  to  this,  in  cases  of  threatened  or  real  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels,  or  difficulty  of  urinating,  the  yar- 
row herb,  prepared  in  the  same  manner,  and  you  have  a 
panacea. 

No    69.— A  Salve, 

That  is  very  cooling,  soothing  and  healing,  good  to 
apply  to  any  kind  of  a  sore,  where  there  is  any  inflam- 
mation, either  local  or  general.  Take  the  well-known 
herb,  called  liveforever,  bruise  or  pow^der  it  fine,  and 
then  simmer  it  in  sweet  cream;  then  add  camphor  gum 
while  it  is  only  warm  enough  to  dissolve  the  gum,  mix 
thoroughly,  and  it  is  ready  for  use;  apply  by  binding  it 
on,  or  rubbing  it  over  the  surface  of  the  sore. 

No.  70. — Ox  Marrow. 

The  spinal  marrow  of  the  ox  or  cow,  by  diluting  with 
spirits  of  turpeniine,  is  sometimes  a  very  useful  applica- 
tion for  poll  evil  or  fistula;  in  the  beginning  of  the  dis- 
ease apply  often,  by  rubbing  it  on  with  the  hand  for  two 
or  three  days,  when  a  cure  may  be  looked  for. 

No.  71 — Fever  Sore   Cure. 

Take  about  equal  parts  of  spikenard  and  comfrey 
roots,  clean  them;  then  take  the  same  quantity  as  of 
both  the  former,  of  fat,  salt  pork;  chop  them  all  very 
fine,  and  simmer  over   a  :slow  fire  for  a  short  time;  add 


avery's  own  farrier.  305 

two  spoonsfull  of  honey  to  a  pound  of  the  above,  and  it 
is  ready  for  use,  when  cool.  This  is  said  to  be  a  certain 
cure  for  fever  sore,  or  any  deep  seated  or  ulcerated 
wound  on  or  near  the  bone.  Add  to  the  above  salve, 
wormwood  oil,  so  as  to  make  a  liniment,  and  it  is  one 
of  the  best  things  to  disperse  swelling  or  callous  of  the 
parotid  glands  (that  lie  just  over  the  angle  of  the  jaw 
bone),  that  is  left  by  distempers  or  colds. 

No.  72. — To  Clean  the  Horse. 

When  the  horse  is  troubled  with  dust  or  dandruff  in 
the  hair,  caused  by  surfeit,  &c.,  let  him  roll  in  dry  sand, 
as  he  will  be  very  willing  to  do  whenever  he  has  an 
opportunity  to  do  so:  wash  and  clean  with  a  brush;  this 
will  take  the  sand  all  out  of  the  hair,  which  will  take 
the  dandruff  along  with  it,  and  both  helps  cleanse  the 
skin. 

No.  73. — Caution. 

"  Immodest  words  admit  of  no  defence, 
For  want  of  decency  is  want  of  sense." 

As  the  foetus  partakes  largely  of  the  peculiar  quality 
of  the  blood  (at  the  time  of  the  union  of  the  sexes,  as 
well  as  after)  of  the  dam,  it  is  essentially  necessary  in 
good  breeding,  that  care  should  be  taken  not  to  ride  or 
drive  her  to  excess,  immediately  previous — that  is,  not 
to  heat  her  blood  to  an  unusual  degree.  And  she  should 
be  kept  in  some  quiet  place,  where  she  will  not  be 
teased  by  other  horses,  for  several  days  afterwards. 

No.  74. — Adhesive  or  Sticking  Plaster. 
Take  three  pounds  of  rosin,  half  pound  bees'    wax, 


306  avery's  own  farrier. 

four  ounces  of  mutton  tallow,  and  two  ounces  of  white 
pine  turpentine;  melt  and  mix  together;  when  suffi- 
ciently cool,  work  into  rolls  to  suit  convenience. 

No.  75. — Celebrated  Liniment. 

Take  one  ounce  of  origanum,  one  ounce  of  cedar,  one 
ounce  of  hemlock,  and  one-fourth  of  an  ounce  of  worm- 
wood oils,  then  one-eighth  of  an  ounce  each  of  cloves 
and  camphor  gum,  add  to  this  one  quart  of  alcohol;  use 
spirits  of  wine  and  color  if  you  like;  good  for  fresh 
wounds,  sprains  and  bruises. 

No.  76  — A  New  Discovery  for  a  Burn. 

They  who  pull  down  the  stately  fabric  of  general 
health  and  prosperity,  find  themselves  buried  beneath  its 
ruins.  Dry  charcoal,  pulverised  and  laid  over  a  fresh 
burn,  for  one  hour,  will  ease  the  pain  and  cause  it  to 
heal  in  almost  an  incredibly  short  time;  simple,  but 
certainly  deserves  a  trial. 

No.  77. — To  Break  a  Horse  from  Kicking. 

Strap  up  one  of  his  fore  legs  so  that  he  can  not  get 
his  foot  to  the  floor,  then  exercise  and  handle  his  hind 
legs,  moving  him  about  the  floor  till  he  is  tired  of  stand- 
ing on  three  legs,  and  becomes  submissive.  A  few 
lessons  in  this  way  will  render  him  safe  to  handle  any- 
where. Strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  horse  in  walking 
or  trotting,  never  has  but  one  foot  off  the  ground  at  a 
time;  which  accounts  for  the  efficacy  of  this  mode  of 
treatment. 


avery's  own  farrier.  307 

No.  78. — Cutting  Teeth. 

Colts,  when  first  foaled,  if  parturition  was  at  maturity, 
should  have  four  front  teeth,  two  in  each  jaw;  and  it  is 
sometimes  the  case  they  have  four  in  each  jaw.  But  it 
sometimes  happens,  that  none  of  these  are  cut  through, 
and  the  gums  are  inflamed,  and  so  tender  that  the  colt 
can  not  suck  well.  This  should  always  be  looked  to, 
and  the  gums  cut  through  with  a  sharp  knife  if  neces- 
sary; and  if  needs  be  should  be  fed  with  milk,  sweet- 
ened with  molasses,  till  it  can  suck  freely. 

No.  79. — For  Milk  Leg  Sores. 

Take  quick  li/iie,  and  strained  honey,  about  equal 
parts;  makes  a  good  application  for  an  old  sore  or  wound 
of  this  kind;  if  used  as  a  wash,  add  Boston  rum,  or  use 
No.  71  on  the  sore,  and  bathe  the  limb  with  the  hot 
drops.  Many  of  the  big  legs  we  see  are  caused  by 
injuries  in  the  back  or  spine,  causing  dropsy  of  the 
limb,  that  should  have  been  remedied  by  some  of  the 
foregoing  liniments.  But  after  being  allowed  to  run 
until  they  become  chronic,  it  may  sometimes  require 
more  active  treatment,  in  order  to  effect  a  cure,  when 
nothing  short  of  blistering  or  the  cautery  need  be 
resorted  to,  or  the  prepared  cotton,  but  lire  is  fire. 

No.  80. — Another  Heave  Ball. 

Equal  parts  of  quick  lime  and  honey,  adding  a  very 
little  lobelia  seed.  Work  these  into  a  common  sized 
ball,  and  give  one  every  morning,  until  relief  is  found. 
For  want  of  the  lobelia,  use  more  of  the  powdered  ele- 
campane root. 


308  avery's  own  farriek.  , 

No.  81. — A  Liniment  for  Sprains,  Bruises,  Ringbones 

AND  Spavins. 

This  is  a  compound  that  harmonizes  well,  and  is  use- 
ful in  many  cases,  when  applied  to  the  human  flesh, 
viz.  :  to  one  quart  of  alcohol,  add  two  ounces  of  oil  of 
wormwood  ;  and  one  ounce  each  of  cedar,  hemlock, 
balsam,  amber  and  origanum  oils.  There  are  medicines 
which  remove  diseases,  only  by  substituting  others, 
worse  even  than  the  first.  In  using  medicines,  there- 
fore, remember  to  use  such  only  as  will  assist  nature, 
and  not  impede  her,  and  destroy  the  system. 

No.  82. — For  Sweeny. 

If  the  horse  is  to  be  worked,  while  under  treatment 
for  this  disease,  the  following  will  be  the  best  mode  of 
procedure  to  effect  a  cure  :  the  muscles  being  contracted, 
the  skin  adheres  to  the  bones  and  muscles,  and  becomes 
very  tight  on  the  shoulder,  or  the  affected  part.  Anoint 
the  place  once  a  day,  for  two  or  three  days  in  succes- 
sion, with  spirits  of  turpentine,  after  which  begin  to 
rub  it  well  every  day  with  bear's  oil  (or  for  the  want 
thereof  use  melted  lard),  and  also  pull  the  skin  up  loose 
all  over  the  place  affected,  with  a  pair  of  large  flat 
pinchers.  This  being  attended  to  for  some  two  weeks, 
and  a  few  applications  afterwards  of  No-  81,  will  relieve 
and  strengthen  the  muscles,  and  the  horse  is  cured  of 
his  lameness. 

No.  S3. — Disinfecting  Compound. 

Take  dried  and  pulverized  plaster  of  Paris,  mixed  with 
one-fourth    part   of   its  weight   of  powdered   charcoal. 


avery's  own  farrier.  309 

This  is  a  cheap  and  effective  disinfecting  composition; 
it  removes  the  noxious  emanations  from  decomposing 
organic  matter,  it  fixes  the  ammonia,  and  forms  a  valua- 
ble manure,  when  removed  from  the  stable,  &c. 

No.  84. — An  excellent  Liniment. 

For  skin  fractures  or  blotches:  take  fresh  butter  and 
try  it  until  the  buttermilk  is  out  of  it,  then  add  the  same 
quantity  of  origanum  oil,  a  little  camphor  and  spirits  of 
hartshorn;  mix  thoroughly. 

No.  85. To  CLEAR  THE  EyE  FROM  DiRT. 

Take  oil  of  peppermint,  and  rub  it  on  freely  below  the 
eye;  this  will  steam  up  into  the  eye,  causing  a  copious  flow 
of  tears,  which,  together  with  the  motion  of  the  eye,  will 
wash  out  all  loose  dirt  that  may  be  in  the  eye  effectually. 
It  being  so  very  difficult  to  work  at  the  horse's  eye, 
owing  to  its  great  sensitiveness,  that  this  remedy  is  often 
beneficial. 

No.  86. — Happiness  consists  in  doing  Right. 

Brother  farmer,  come  let  us  join  the  light-infantry  of 
Progress,  that  success  may  be  ours.  It  may  be  pleasant 
to  ride  over  the  flower  strewn  path  that  lies  before  us, 
and  partake  of  the  bounties  of  earth,  while  the  eye  feasts 
on  the  starry-curtained  heavens  that  hang  over  us.  And 
if  we  grow  wiser,  happier,  and  more  useful  to  our  fellow 
soldiers,  on  our  jouiney,  then  the  object  for  which  we 
enlisted  is  accomplished. 


310  avery's  own  farrier. 

No.  87. — Restoration  to  Health. 

When  the  horse  has  sunken,  sallow-looking,  gummed 
eyes,  you  may  give  him  a  spoonful!  of  pulverized  cop- 
peras, to  advantage,  but  it  is  not  best  to  repeat  the  dose 
under  a  week,  if  at  all,  as  the  poison  it  contains  is  too 
weakening  if  too  often  repeated. 

No.  88.— The  Non  Plus. 

The  common  puff  ball  is  sometimes  useful  in  staunch- 
ing blood,  from  a  fresh  wound,  by  breaking  it  up  and 
binding  it  on  the  wound.  It  also  has  about  the  same 
effect  on  the  horse  that  chloroform  does  on  the  human, 
by  drying  it,  and  then  letting  him  inhale  the  smoke 
thereof,  while  it  is  burning  on  hot  coals;  this  is  used 
sometimes  (in  the  absence  of  other  articles)  for  medi- 
cating the  horse. 

No.  89. — For  a  General  Medicine.  , 

As  I  stated  in  the  commencement  of  the  second  part 
of  this  work,  that  there  could  not  be  anything  very 
serious  about  the  horse,  that  did  not  aflfect  any  of  the 
principal  outlets  of  the  body,  viz:  the  skin,  urine  or 
excrement,  because,  if  any  of  the  internal  organs  of  his 
complicated  structure  be  deranged,  it  will  soon  show 
itself  in  some  one  or  all  of  these,  which  calls  for  some 
artificial  stimulant  to  set  them  right  again;  and  not 
unfrequently,  it  requires  a  general  medicine,  that  will  act 
in  harmony  on  the  whole;  and  then  it  is  often  the  case, 
aside  from  this,  that  there  is  a  want  of  vital  energy  of 
the  system,  when   the  pulse  will   be  below  the  common 


Avery's  own  farrier.  311 

standard,  which  calls  loudly  for  an  additional  stimulant 
to  the  arterial  system,  which  may  be  found  in  the  use  of 
the  following  articles:  Take  one  j^ill  of  superfine  flour 
of  slippery  elm  bark,  and  four  spoonsfull  of  Cape  or 
Barbadoes  aloes,  and  the  same  of  satTron  blows,  with  one 
spoonfull  of  camphor  gum,  powdered  and  mixed,  will  be 
sufficient  for  four  to  eight  doses,  which  may  be  given  in 
a  quart  of  warm  water  sweetened  with  molasses,  as  a 
drench,  or  worked  into  balls  with  the  same,  and  well 
oiled,  and  given  as  often  as  the  case  may  require.  But 
w^hen  the  difficulty  is  most  apparent  in  urinating,  leave 
out  the  camphor  and  saffron,  and  in  lieu  thereof,  add 
rosin  or  balsam  of  fir;  or  if  this  is  not  the  cr.se,  and 
there  is  a  want  of  vitality,  or  natural  warmth  of  the 
body,  leave  out  the  rosin  and  balsam,  and  in  lieu  of  them 
add  cayenne  and  gum  myrrh,  which  in  any  case  that 
requires  medicine,  may  be  followed  by  giving  a  quart  of 
strong  tea,  made  by  steeping  the  common  garden  sage, 
which  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  horse, 
as  I  have  before  stated.  But,  if  the  animal  is  in  extreme 
pain  in  any  of  the  urinary  organs,  and  the  object  is  to 
relieve  his  suffering,  then  apply  hot  fomentation  (hops 
for  instance),  to  ihe  body;  if  the  disease  has  so  far 
advanced,  that  there  is  danger  of  mortification,  apply 
the  hot  drops,  or  pure  rock  salt  and  cold  w'ater,  this, 
together  with  the  siomach  tonics,  recommended  for 
derangement  of  the  stomach,  and  colic,  is  all  that  will 
be  necessary  for  nearly  all  ordinary  cases  of  disease  that 
the  horse  is  subject  to  of  this  kind. 


312  ^        avery's  own  farrier. 

Assisted  by  memory,  I  have  picked  up  the  scattered 
fragments  of  the  mind — and  like  the  skillful  mariner,  who 
carefully  fills  up  his  log,  for  the  purpose  of  knowing 
what  degree  of  latitude  and  longitude  he  is  sailing  in — 
I  have  endeavored  to  map  the  ground  that  I  have 
traveled  over,  so  that  any  one  following  on  my  track, 
will  be  able  to  shun  the  rocks  and  shoals  that  have  ship- 
wrecked others. 

Though  I  do  not  pr^end  but  that  there  are  points 
relative  to  the  horse,  that  are  beyond  the  horizon  of  my 
investigation;  yet  I  think  I  have  said  enough  to  benefit 
that  class  of  readers  to  which  this  little  treatise  is  dedi- 
cated. 

No.  90. — The  Farmer's  Medicine  Chest, 

Should  be  situated  in  some  safe  and  convenient  place 

about  his  dwelling  or  stable;   and  should  contain  a  nice 

lancet,  fleam,  horn  or  bottle;  a  good  syringe  that  will 

hold  at  least  a  quart;  a  pair  of  forceps  suflSciently  strong 

to    pull  teeth  or   shoe    nails,  and    two   scratchers,  one 

straight  one,  and  one  crooked  or.  hooked   towards    the 

point,  for  the   purpose  of  cleaning  and   examining   the 

feet. 

He  should   also  provide  himself  with  (at  the  proper 

seasons  for  gathering  them)  such  plants,  herbs,  barks  and 

roots,  as  he  can  easily  procure  from  the  fields  he  so  often 

travels  over,  and  are  most  needed  in  the  treatment  of  the 

most  common  diseases  (at  least)  that  frequent  his  stable; 

and  such  other  medicines  as  I  have  recommended,  or  he 

may  prefer,  in  treating  all  ordinary  diseases  of  the  horse. 

Supposing  you  have  never  been  taxed,  by  having  sick 


avery's  own  farrier.  313 

or  lame  horses,  you  are  not  exempt  any  more  than  your 
neighbors,  unless  it  is  because  you  have  learned  to  take 
better  care  of  them.  And  then  you  will  please  remember 
the  text,  that  an  ounce  of  preventive,  is  worth  a  pound 
of  cure.  And  I  am  sure  that  it  is  easier  paid  for,  when 
two  pounds  of  the  former  can  be  had  at  a  less  cost  than 
one  ounce  of  the  latter. 

No.  91. — Another  Recipe   for  Condition  Powders. 

To  raise  and  animate  the  drooping  spirits  of  a  very 
sick  horse,  perhaps  there  is  nothing  better  in  the  world, 
than  the  remedy  given  under  the  caption  of  Renewal  of 
Life.  And  to  strengthen  the  digestive  organs,  and  re- 
store good  health  and  prime  condition,  after  any  kind  of 
fever,  inflammation,  &c.,  the  following  is  a  good  remedy: 
Take  equal  parts  of  ground  mustard,  grated  liquorice 
root,  and  the  filings  of  deer's  horns;  these  should  be  all 
newly  powdered,  and  then  add  to  one  part  of  each,  two 
parts  of  the  flour  of  the  elm  bark;  if  there  is  a  cough, 
add  elecampane  root  (a  small  part),  which  may  be 
scented  with  anise,  &c.  Give  a  tablespoonfull  every 
morning,  for  four  or  five  days — except  in  urgent  cases, 
give  twice  a  day — in  a  mash  of  bran  or  soaked  oats;  if 
the  animal  refuses  to  eat  it  prepared  in  this  way,  fix  a 
new  dose,  and  give  it  in  a  pint  of  water,  wnth  a  horn  or 

bottle. 

No.  92. — A   Simple  Digestive, 

Or  restorative,  merely  to  assist  digestion  and  cleanse 

the  stomach,  as  many  other  diseases  proceed  from   this 

cause  alone,  give  the  horse  a  tablespoonfull  of  powdered 

charcoal,  and  a  teaspoonfull  of  peppermint  essence  in  a 

27 


314  avery's  own  farrier. 

pint  of  water.     Good  nursing  in  all  cases  of  disease,  is 
very  essential. 

We  often  see  horses  grow  up  with  their  limbs  dispro- 
portionately large,  or  small,  for  their  bodies;  and  it  is 
not  unfrequently  the  case  that  this  is  caused,  measurably, 
by  the  quality  of  food  he  subsists  on.  I  have  often 
seen  this  kind  of  horse  much  improved,  by  changing  the 
quality  of  food,  which  is  sometimes  brought  about  by 
changing  owners,  &c.  That  is,  when  their  limbs  have 
been  too  light  and  slender,  they  would  gradually  grow 
larger  and  firmer.  And  when  the  limbs  have  appeared 
too  large,  the  body  would  grow,  so  as  to  be  more  pro- 
portionate to  the  limbs;  and  all  this  brought  about  by 
judicious  feeding  and  exercise.  The  buckwheat,  not- 
withstanding its  cooling  and  cleansing  effects  on  the 
system  (for  the  purposes  I  have  recommended  it  on  ac- 
count of  its  medicinal  properties),  also  contains  more 
phosphate  of  lime  (which  increases  the  growth  of  bone), 
as  well  as  more  fatty  matter  than  many  other  kinds  of 
grain. 

No.  93.— Frogs'  Oil. 

To  relax  the  muscles,  &c.,  take  two  or  three  quarts  of 
sweet  cream,  set  it  boiling  in  a  kettle;  then  put  in  one 
dozen  of  large  live  frogs,  and  let  it  boil  until  there  is 
nothing  left  of  the  frogs,  except  bones,  then  strain,  and 
try  down  to  an  oil.  An  excellent  remedy  for  string 
halt  and  sprung  knees,  apply  as  before  directed  ;  some- 
times a  little  cedar  oil  may  be  added  advantageously, 
for  tetanus. 


Avery's  own  farrier.  315 

No.  94. — A  Good  Domestic  Liniment. 

To  one  pint  of  good  alcohol  add  one  and  a  half  ounce 
of  origanum  oil;  one  ounce  of  camphor  gum,  and  half 
an  ounce  of  laudanum. 

No.  95. — A  Good  Horse  Liniment. 

One  pint  of  alcohol,  one  pint  of  spirits  turpentine, 
two  ounces  of  camphor  gum,  one  and  a  half  ounce  of 
origanum  oil,  one  and  a  half  ounce  of  oil  of  amber,  one 
ounce  of  wormwood  oil,  two  ounces  of  Barbadoes  tar, 
and  three  ounces  of  Castile  soap;  good  for  cuts,  burns, 
bruises,  sprains  and  neuralgia. 

No.  96. — Cause  and  Effect. 

As  sure  as  effect  follows  cause,  just  so  sure  there  is  a 
cause  for  effect;  and  this  is  applicable  in  disease  as  well 
as  in  anything  else.  I  have  no  doubt,  even  in  this  sec- 
tion of  country,  that  many  of  the  ills  that  the  horse  is 
subjected  to  may  be  attributed  to  improper  feeding,  and 
that  as  many  horses  suffer  from  this  cause,  as  from  want 
of  feeding.  I  know  many  farmers  and  others  that  are  in 
the  habit,  as  soon  as  their  oats  are  harvested,  to  begin 
feeding  their  work  horses  with  oats  in  the  bundle,  until 
winter,  or  until  they  have  time  to  do  their  threshing;  and 
others,  while  feeding  a  good  portion  of  grain,  make  up 
the  remaining  part  of  their  food  with  straw.  As  a  gene- 
ral rule,  this  last  does  very  well,  and  especially  where  cut 
feed  is  not  used  at  all,  and  more  particularly  after  their 
horses  are  old  enough  to  be  put  into  work,  say  five  or  six 
years  old.  Although  this  mode  of  feeding  has  had  its  dis- 
astrous effects  with  the  horse,  the  present  season.    Owing 


316  avery's  own  farrier. 

to  the  late  and  wet  spring  of  1858,  and  the  frequent  show- 
ers and  hot  sun  that  intervened,  the  oat  crop  was  sown  late, 
consequently  but  a  light  crop  was  obtained,  the  straw  of 
which  was  almost  invariably  struck  more  or  less  with 
the  rust.  This  rust,  or  ergot,  contains  poison,  and  by 
constantly  feeding  the  straw,  its  effects  are  like  a  slow 
poison,  taking  in  more  of  it  with  their  food  than  can 
work  itself  out  through  the  pores  of  the  skin.  It  is  an 
ergot  of  the  oat,  the  same  as  that  of  rye,  or  the  grasses 
which  causes  hoof  ail  among  cattle.  I  have  known  quite 
a  number  of  horses  suffering  from  this  cause,  and  had 
several  under  my  immediate  observation  and  care  the 
past  winter  ( 1859).  Symptoms:  Refuses  to  eat,  drinks 
daintily,  having  languid  feeling  with  cold  ears  and  feet; 
pulse  slow  and  weak;  much  inclined  to  lie  down,  rising, 
pawing,  and  looking  around  to  the  sides  occasionally, 
but  only  when  the  paroxysms  come  on,  caused  by  the 
contraction,  or  spasms  of  the  muscular  coatings  of  the 
stomach  and  intestines,  flanks  tucked  up,  &,c.  Cure :  First 
remove  the  cause  by  a  change  of  food,  and  the  effect 
ceases;  nature  will  again  rally  without  a  foe.  Secondly, 
a  little  minf  water  and  powdered  ginger,  will  be  very 
beneficial  in  restoring  tone  and  action  to  the  system. 

No.  97. — The  Study  of  Nature. 

I  am  not  an  Agassiz,  nor  a  Humboldt;  but  I  fully  con- 
cur with  the  former  in  the  sentiment  that  the  study  of 
the  phenomena  of  nature  is  among  the  most  potent  means 
of  developing  the  human  faculties.  As  an  evidence  of 
this  look  at  the  latter,  who  is  the  very  embodiment  of  the 
most   extensive  human  knowledge   in  our  days;  "and 


avery's  own  farrier.  317 

who  has  acquired  this  position,  and  who  has  become  an 
object  of  reverence  throughout  the  world,  merely  by  his 
devotion  to  the  study  of  nature." 

I  am  well  aware  that  it  is  easier  to  give  advice  than 
it  is  to  take  it.  For  this  reason  books  often  become  a 
dry  study;  therefore  he  that  wishes  to  profit  by  the  study 
of  nature,  should  go  out  into  the  fields  and  forests,  and 
draw  its  objects  around  him  by  the  most  scrutinizing 
observation.  There  he  will  learn  what  he  can  not  draw 
from  any  other  source,  and  what  he  can  not  buy,  and  feel 
what  he  can  not  write.* 

For  instance,  if  we  want  to  be  animated  by  the  charms 
of  music,  we  must  not  only  study  the  rules  which  help 
cultivate  the  memory,  but  we  must  take  an  instrument 
and  learn  to  play  it.  If  we  would  be  interested  in  the 
study  of  plants,  let  us  go  to  the  plants  themselves.  If 
we  would  study  mineralogy,  let  us  take  specimens,  stones, 
minerals  and  crystals.  Or  if  we  would  study  natural 
history,  then  let  us  have  the  animals  before  us.  Then 
books  will  have  a  meaning,  they  will  no  longer  be  a  dry 
study,  but  grow  more  interesting  and  useful  as  we  peruse 
them. 

Man  can  not  change  the  principles  of  nature,  but  he 
must  learn  to  take  the  phenomena  of  nature  as  they  are, 
which  should  teach   him   humility  and    truth;  for  what- 


*  The  world's  great  humorist  and  naturalist,  Dan  Rice,  who  has 
(he  says)  tamed  and  educated  a  variety  of  animals,  from  the  Rhino- 
ceros down  to  the  Goose,  says  the  Naturalist  can  not  write  ;  he 
knows  things  are  thus  and  so,  but  the  whys  and  wherefores  he  can 
not  tell  if  he  would . 


3J8  avery's  own  farrier. 

ever  he  finds  in  nature  is  true;  therefore  he  should  bow 
to  what  is,  and  what  he  can  not  (with  all  his  pride  and 
wisdom)  change.  And  while  learning  this  he  will  ac- 
quire a  knowledge  of  things  as  they  are,  a  power  which 
can  neither  be  checked  nor  lessened,  and  which  will 
enable  him  to  see  the  relation  he  bears,  and  his  duty 
towards  the  animal  creation,  which  will  improve  the 
mind  in  proportion  as  his  opportunities  for  observation, 
and  willingness  to  serve  his  master,  increases. 

He  will  also  learn  to  see  the  similitude  that  exists  in 
all  quadrupeds,  and  that  they  are  all  constructed  on  the 
same  great  plan;  that  the  Great  Architect  knew  how  to 
apply  the  same  means  to  purposes  as  different  as  walk- 
ing, flying,  and  swimming. 

No.  98. — The  Tourniquet. 

The  Doctor  had  a  splendid  horse,  but  he  had  one  bad 
habit,  that  of  being  very  ugly  to  shoe;  he  kicked 
so  when  they  attempted  to  nail  the  hind  shoes  on 
that  the  smiths  were  all  afraid  of  him;  they  cast  him 
several  times  for  this  purpose.  I  found  by  buckling  a 
strap  around  each  hind  leg  above  the  hock  so  as  to  com- 
press the  ham-string  sufficiently,  there  was  no  difficulty 
in  drawing,  driving  and  clinching  the  nails  without  be- 
ing kicked  out  of  the  barn,  a  thing  that  several  horse- 
men had  failed  to  accomplish.  The  Doctor  must  take 
his  tourniquet  along  with  him  the  next  time  he  wants  his 
favorite  shod. 


avery's  own  farrier.  319 

No.  99. — Cure  for  a  Despairing  Mind. 

Take  one  drachm  of  each,  faith,  hope  and  charity; 
sweetened  with  one  ounce  of  that  love  that  worketh  no 
ill  to  its  neighbor;  the  whole  to  be  taken  (morning  and 
evening)  in  a  glassfull  of  truth,  until  the  patient  is  con- 
valescent. 


320  avery's  own  farrier. 


HINTS  TO  PURCHASERS. 

Rum,  Brandy,  Gin  and  Whiskey,  are  more  or  less  all 
adulterated  articles  at  the  present  day,  and  the  less  we 
have  to  do  with  them  (as  a  general  thing)  the  better. 
Our  Teas,  Sugars  and  Tobacco,  with  many  other  articles 
of  a  like  nature,  come  under  the  same  category;  and  it 
is  better  to  buy  a  pure  article  when  we  can,  even  though 
the  first  cost  may  be  more;  it  will  be  cheaper  for  us  in 
end,  if,  by  so  doing,  we  preserve  our  health.  Cotton  is 
fast  taking  the  place  of  wool  and  silk,  in  many  of  the 
fabrics  intended  for  our  use;  consequently  it  becomes 
necessary  for  us  to  make  ourselves  acquainted  with  the 
different  modes  of  manufacturing  those  articles,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  detect  the  imposition,  and  see  ihat  we  get 
what  we  pay  for.  We  need  say  nothing  about  jewelry, 
and  those  articles  that  our  pride  and  extravagance  have 
called  into  use.  The  horse,  too,  notwithstanding  the 
great  space  he  fills  among  the  many  wants  of  man,  is  a 
very  deceivable  kind  of  property.  Even  our  best  judges 
are  sometimes  liable  to  be  deceived  on  some  points,  when 
they  purchase  a  horse.  They  are  obliged  to  content  them- 
selves with  guessing  at  them,  or  rely  on  the  honor  of  the 
salesman;  and  then  there  are  certain  requisites  among  the 
excellencies  of  those  useful  creatures,  that  are  indispens- 
able for  a  good  horse  to  have.  My  views  of  which  can 
be  found  in  the  chapter  of  breeding,  and  when  rightly 
studied  will  defy  all  Yankeedom  to  deceive  us. 

Some  men  are  so  perfectly  ignorant  to  their  true  in- 
terest and  happiness,  that  it  would  seem  as  though  no 


avery's  own  farrier.  321 

recuperative  treatment  was  sufficient  to  make  them  re- 
frain from  this  common  error,  in  using  a  little  deception 
in  the  sale  of  their  animals;  but  they  should  remember 
that  for  every  dollar  plained  in  this  way  (to  the  pocket), 
there  are  ten  lost  to  the  reputation,  and  nine  times  out  of 
ten  where  this  course  is  pursued,  for  any  considerable 
length  of  time,  it  brings  both  to  bankruptcy,  or  the 
proprietor  is  lost  to  true  happiness. 

And  then  some  are  quite  apt  to  deceive  themselves  by 
not  exercising  their  better  judgment,  or  relying  to  much 
on  what  they  may  have  heard  some  one  say,  or  having 
formed  too  favorable  an  opinion  before  hand,  for  all 
these  things  have  a  powerful  influence  on  the  minds  and 
judgment  of  most  men  at  such  times,  in  fact  so  much 
that  they  can  not  tell  afterwards  whether  the  questions 
they  asked  were  answered,  or  some  they  did  not  ask;  for 
if  they  see  one  or  two  points  in  a  horse  that  pleases  them, 
it  becomes  an  easy  task  for  the  jockey  to  divert  their  at- 
tention from  all  the  rest,  however  bad  they  may  be. 
Therefore,  to  become  a  successful  purchaser,  we  must 
learn  something  of  human  nature,  as  well  as  that  of 
the  horse. 

In  the  first  place,  if  you  wish  to  purchase  a  horse,  you 
should  be  calm  and  deliberate,  considering  well  the  use 
you  are  to  make  of  the  animal  you  are  about  to  buy,  and 
then  select  one  that  is  well  adapted  to  your  purpose, 
remembering  that  the  size,  shape  and  motion  of  the  ear, 
wilh  the  expression  of  the  eye,  is  an  index  to  the  dis- 
position and  temper  within,  as  much  as  the  legs  (which 
should  be  free  from   all  blemishes  whatever),  and  the 


322  avery's  own  farrier. 

general  symmetry  of  the  body,  are  of  his  muscular  power. 
The  feet  should  be  carefully  examined;  choose  a  round 
and  smooth  hoof,  not  too  soft  nor  too  hard,  the  bottom 
of  which  should  be  curving,  as  a  flat  foot,  with  a  spongy 
heel  and  frog,  is  very  objectionable. 

As  to  the  soundness  of  the  lungs  and  other  parts  of 
the  body,  you  have  three  chances,  viz:  to  trust  to  your 
own  knowledge  and  good  judgment,  or  rely  on  the  honor 
of  the  salesman  in  this  respect,  or  carefully  study  the 
horse  and  this  book,  which  I  leave  as  a  boon,  that  I 
sincerely  hope  you  will  be  able  to  profit  by. 

My  boat  has  reached  the  shore, 

My  mark  you  now  can  see. 
And  yet,  I  wish  still  more 

To  aid  myself  and  thee. 


avery's  own  farrier.  323 


CLOSING  REMARKS. 

Life  is  before  us;  let  us  use  it  as  children  of  one  far  superior 
to  any  and  all  of  us,  whose  all-seing  eye  ever  rests  upon  us,  and 
to  whom  we  should  return  thanks  for  everything  we  enjoy,  as 
ail  this  is  a  gift  from  Him. 

I  have  already  gone  beyond  the  space  I  intended  to 
occupy  when  I  commenced  this  work,  but  any  one  can 
readily  perceive  my  limited  position,  and  will  excuse  me 
for  going  over  so  much  ground,  when  they  consider  that 
a  whole  volume  would  be  necessary  to  describe  the  eye 
or  foot  alone  of  the  horse,  in  all  its  parts. 

Thinking  that  a  description  of  all  the  various  diseases 
that  the  horse  is  liable  to,  together  with  the  remedies 
suitable  for  their  cure,  would  be  more  useful  and  satis- 
factory to  the  public  (which  I  have  endeavored  to  do  as 
well  as  my  feeble  pen  could  describe  my  ideas),  than  to 
undertake  to  give  an  anatomical  description  of  his  com- 
plicated structure,  which  could  be  of  no  earthly  use  to 
any  one  unless  he  had  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
other.  It  is  our  business  to  take  care  of  the  horse,  which 
differs  a  little  here  from  the  engine,  that  we  both  manu- 
facture and  keep  in  repair  afterwards. 

If  one-half  of  the  time  and  expense  that  has  been  laid 
out  in  analyzing  minerals,  and  manufacturing  theories, 
had  been  laid  out  in  studying  into  the  nature  of  disease, 
and  their  proper  treatment  by  simple  vegetable  medicine, 
we  should  have  been  far  better  off  (to-day)  than  we  now 
are,  I  think. 

And  whenever  I  am  conscious  that  this  little  book  has 
been  the  means  of  saving  one  poor  man's  horse,  I  shall 


324  avery's  own  farrier. 

feel  amply  rewarded  for  the  time  and  trouble  it  has  cost 
me  to  throw  my  thoughts  on  these  pages.  And  yet  I 
know  that  if  it  should  be  appreciated,  and  generally 
adopted  in  veterinary  practice,  that  it  will  be  the  means 
of  saving  thousands  that  might  otherwise  go  to  the  bats 
every  year.  And  when  they  show  that  I  have  not  as  clear 
a  head,  and  as  honest  a  heart  as  other  men,  on  the  true 
principle  of  governing  a  horse  in  health,  and  when 
diseased,  it  is  hoped  that  they  will  prove  this  by  giving 
to  the  world  something  better  than  I  have  done. 

I  can  not  help  protesting  against  the  old  method  of 
giving  advice  to  the  effect  that  when  a  horse  was  or  had 
been  diseased,  to  trade  him  off,  or  sell  him  as  quick  as 
possible.  My  advice  to  the  owners  of  such  animals 
would  be  to  first  cure  them  of  any  and  all  diseases  that 
they  may  have,  which  can  be  done,  and  then  do  as  they 
please  about  parting  with  them.  Or,  if  they  sell  them, 
sell  them  for  what  they  are  'worth,  as  they  are,  hiding 
nothing. 

I  was  astonished  to-day  on  taking  up  the  New  York 
Tribune  (February  20th,  1858),  to  see  that  the  editor  of 
that  valuable  paper  should,  after  giving  his  patrons  some 
wholesome  advice  as  to  the  treatment  of  several  diseases 
of  the  horse,  wind  up  the  thread  of  his  discourse  by  fol- 
lowing this  old  method  of  advice  in  these  words:  "And 
now,  one  word  to  the  owner  of  a  horse  that  has  had  one 
bad  attack  of  inflammation,  either  of  the  lungs  or  of  the 
bowels  —  get  rid  of  him  as  soon  as  possible." 

Now  what  one  man  would  gain  by  following  such 
advice  as  that,   another  must   certainly   lose,  and,   be- 


avery's  own  farrier.  325 

sides  this,  look  at  the  amount  of  litigation  it  has  cost 
(if  not  perjury)  in  the  world.  Therefore,  I  say,  when  a 
man  has  a  diseased  horse,  he  should  set  himself  to  work 
studying  into  the  nature  of  the  disease,  and  apply  those 
harmless  remedies  that  nature  has  provided  for  all,  until 
he  effects  a  cure,  or  place  him  in  the  hands  of  a  compe- 
tent person  for  this  purpose,  but  not  trade  him  off  as 
sound  because  he  does  not  know  how  to  make  him  such. 

In  human  life  there  is  a  constant  change  of  fortune, 
and  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  exemption  from 
the  common  fate  of  mankind.  Life  itself  decays,  and 
all  things  are  daily  changing,  yet  1  hope  and  trust  that 
you  will  endeavor  with  me  to  use  the  things  of  this 
world  so  as  not  to  abuse  them.  Do  right  and  fear  not, 
is  the  motto,  for  fear  and  ignorance  are  the  parents  of 
cruelty. 

Well,  as  I  happen  to  live  in  the  days  of  fast  men  and 
fast  horses,  I  must  pen  a  few  more  lines  and  then  I  am 
done.  The  time  has  been  when  any  improvement  in 
horses,  was  by  many  almost  despaired  of;  and  even  rail 
roads,  as  well  as  the  march  of  other  improvements,  if  not 
impeded,  have  been  objected  to  and  opposed  on  the 
ground  that  horses  would  be  thrown  out  of  employ;  that 
there  would  be  no  market  for  them,  consequently  the 
farmer  could  not  get  pay  for  raising  them,  but  the  result 
has  proved  the  reverse  of  this. 

The  fact  in  this  case  is,  the  horse  is  an  adjunct  of  civili- 
zation, and  can  never  be  dispensed  with.  The  further- 
ance of  other  improvements,  only  serve  to  his  advance- 
ment, and  to  increase  his  demand,  for  the  supply  of  good 

28 


326  AVERy's  OWN  farrier. 

horses  was  never  yet  equal  to  the  demand.  And  every 
one  knows  that  the  ability  of  a  horse  is  the  measure  of 
his  worth,  for  a  horse  that  will  go  a  mile  in  three 
minutes,  is  worth  more  to  the  physician  or  business  man 
than  one  that  only  goes  a  mile  in  ten  minutes.  And  we 
all  like  to  see  smart  men  and  smart  horses,  for  the  facul- 
ties of  both  were  given  them  for  use.  And  we  like  to 
see  the  horse  brought  into  the  fullest  exercise  by  judicious 
breeding  and  training,  which  tests  the  capability  of 
matter.  A  greater  interest  needs  to  be  awakened  in  the 
public  mind,  by  diffusing  useful  knowledge  in  the  way 
to  improve  these  animals,  to  have  this  desideratum 
accomplished,  and  which  is  measurably  being  done  by 
the  encouragement  given  by  our  legislatures,  the  organ- 
ization of  our  national  fairs,  &c. 

There  is  as  much  philanthropy  in  making  animal 
matter  subservient  to  mind,  as  there  is  in  improving  and 
cultivating  the  mind  itself,  as  the  one  helps  to  accomplish 
the  other.  And  it  always  affords  pleasure,  to  see  a  fast 
horse  and  a  handsome  gait,  and  one  that  never  refuses  to 
pull,  and  can  back  as  much  as  he  can  draw. 

The  best  of  horses  are  none  too  good,  for  the  best  of 
men — neither  are  perfect  yet. 

There  is  a  right  and  a  wrong  principle  existing  which 
is  manifest  to  every  one,  and  men  are  influenced  more  or 
less  by  the  one  or  the  other;  but  that  the  one  of  doing 
wrong  is  necessarily  exercised  in  trading  or  dealing  in 
horses,  any  more  than  in  any  other  commodity,  I  deny. 
And  that  anything  which  I  have  said  in  the  foregoing 
pages,   should    have    a  tendency  to   sap  the  virtues,  or 


avery's  own  farrier.  327 

encourage  a  spirit  of  evil-doing  in  any  one,  is  far  frona 
the  motive  of  your  friend  and  would-be  benefactor. 
Let  truth  ever  be  the  pole  star  to  guide  us  to  the  temple 
of  fame,  which  will  enable  us  to  behold  the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  God  as  it  shines  through  his  love,  as  we  see 
his  bow  through  the  rain  drop. 


328  AVER^'s    OWN    FARRIER. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

Aristotle  the  great  and  ancient  philosopher  could  des- 
cribe (in  his  way  and  time)  the  use  of  each  genital 
organ  in  the  reproductive  instinct,  while  there  were 
other  things  he  frankly  acknowledged  he  knew  nothing 
of.  Dr.  Franklin  had  not  then  invited  the  lightning 
from  the  clouds  to  prove  that  his  theory  was  correct; 
nor  had  a  Fulton  lived  to  see  his  powerful  agent  (steam) 
harnessed  for  man  to  drive  around  the  world.  Could 
they  be  brought  back,  with  what  wonder  and  astonish- 
ment would  they  view  the  improvements  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  and  which  are,  in  great  part,  the  result 
of  their  discoveries. 

After  making  various  experiments,  through  years  of 
study,  I  make  a  Pill  to  give  the  horse,  that  is  of  great 
importance  to  showmen,  sportsmen,  and  all  friends  of 
choice  horses,  which  I  call  the  Quaint. 

The  modus  operandi  of  this  Pill  is,  ^rst,  to  invigorate 
the  internal  organs,  causing  the  animal  to  appear  more 
spirited,  and  increase  his  speed  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
satisfy  the  salesman  of  its  utility.  Secondly,  while  it 
does  this,  it  contains  properties  that  act  as  a  preventive 
against  inflammation  or  stiffness  of  any  kind  that  might 
otherwise  be  caused  by  the  extra  speed  it  creates,  and 
which  can  not  fail  to  be  appreciated  by  the  sportsman, 
either  in  health  or  disease. 

Motion  of  the  animal  body  can  not  be  efl^ected  without 
the  expenditure  of  force.  The  voluntary  movement  of 
an  organ  creats  a  want  of  moving  power,  by  exhausting 


avery's  own  farrier.  329 

the  conditions  upon  which  motion  is  dependent.  Hence 
this  want  amounts  to  the  same  thing  as  an  actual  demand 
on  the  fountain  of  life;  the  supply  of  this  demand  is  a 
continual  stimulus  to  the  vital  forces.  Electricity,  too 
(strange  as  it  may  appear  to  some)^  enters  into  every 
part  of  animal  .life,  or,  in  one  sense,  is  life  itself,  as  it  is 
this  that  gives  life  to  all  animated  beings.  And  it  may 
appear  stranger  still,  when  I  assert  that  life  can  be  pro- 
duced by  Art,  which  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  laws 
of  Nature.  Not  that  I  would  take  the  work  of  Deity  in 
my  own  hands;  but  it  is  now  being  understood  that  life 
from  embryo  is  developed  by  electric  action — by  an 
analagous  process.  And  by  charging  the  system  to  a 
certain  degree  with  electricity,  or  adding  to  life  for  the 
time  being  by  strengthening  and  invigorating  the  vital 
forces,  we  increase  the  speed  and  velocity  of  the  animal. 

Some  physiologists  have  given  it  as  their  opinion,  that 
the  spleen  of  the  human  body  serves  as  a  reservoir  for 
the  superabundance  of  blood  in  the  system,  to  be  dis- 
tributed again  to  such  parts  which,  from  some  cause,  are 
suffering  from  a  deficiency  of  that  circulating  fluid;  or, 
in  other  words,  to  preserve  the  equilibrium  should  it  be- 
come deranged. 

As  with  the  spleen,  so  are  there  substances  in  nature 
surcharged  with  electric  fluid.  When  the  bodies,  of 
which  these  substances  are  mere  appendages,  have  at- 
tracted a  larger  amount  of  electricity  than  is  necessary 
for  their  growth  and  health,  these  appendages  receive 
this  excess,  to  be  returned  again  when  the  requirements 
of  the  bodies  need  it. 

These  facts,  together   with    many  others  of   a  con- 


330  avery's  own  farrier. 

vincing  nature,  have  led  me  to  analyze  and  experiment, 
until  at  length  I  discovered,  under  many  phases  of  dis- 
couragement, a  MEDICINE,  combining  many  peculiar  pro- 
perties of  a  subtle  and  mysterious  character.  Its  effects 
are  so  striking,  I  might  add,  startling,  that  I  have  been 
induced  to  lay  it  before  those  who  look  upon  the  horse 
as  an  animal  worthy  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  man. 
To  such  I  offer  it,  and  not  to  those  who  consider  him  a 
drudge,  a  fit  subject  for  kicks  and  blows,  and  who  even 
deny  him  a  sufficiency  of  daily  food  as  a  compensation 
for  the  hard  labor  he  performs. 

It  is  generally  known  that  racers  fitted  for  the  course, 
are  subjected  to  a  rigid  course  of  diet,  calculated  to  pro- 
mote strength  and  elasticity  of  muscle.  Arterial  stimu- 
lants are  also  employed  from  time  to  time,  but  more 
especially  so  when  the  speed  and  endurance  of  the  horse 
are  being  put  to  the  test.  Thus  far,  these  stimulants 
alone  have  been  employed  by  sportsmen. 

The  recipe  mentioned  below  contains  several  articles 
which,  when  combined,  exert  a  general  electrical  in- 
fluence, not  only  over  the  circulation,  but  also  over  the 
nerves  and  muscles.  The  horse,  under  the  harmless  but 
reviving  effect  of  this  medicine,  will  astonish  those  who 
know  his  capabilities,  by  his  marvelous  feats  of  fleetness 
and  endurance.  Unlike  alcoholic  stimulants,  whose  in- 
fluence is  ephemeral,  it  supplies  a  natural  demand,  and 
is  as  necessary  to  the  full  development  of  the  animal 
spirits,  as  food  is  to  the  sustenance  of  the  body. 

This  medicine  is  not  calculated  for  general  use;  for 
this  reason  I  did  not  place  it  in  the  body  of  this  work. 


avery's  own  farrier.  331 

But  all  who  have  an  interest  in  good  horses,  and  wish 
to  show  them  up  to  their  utmost  capabilities,  and  wit- 
ness a  continuance  of  action  without  fatigue  seldom  met 
with,  can,  for  their  own  use,  avail  themselves  of  the 
benefit  of  this  discovery  (which  alone  will  be  satisfac- 
tory evidence  of  its  properties),  by  remitting  Ten 
Dollars  current  money  to  the  subscriber,  on  the  receipt 
of  which  he  will  transmit,  by  return  mail,  the  recipe, 
with  full  directions,  &c.,  &c.     Hear  the  horse: 

Give  me  a  ball  of  Avery's  Quaint, 
And  on  the  course  I'll  never  faint, 
The  lungs  and  muscles  all  tuned  right, 
I'll  trot  or  run,  with  great  delight. 

JAMES  AVERY,  Salisbury  Centre, 

Herkimer  County,  N.  Y. 


INDEX. 


Page. 
A  cold, 45 

A  curb  or  corb, ,   118 

A  tribute  to  the  horse, 126 

A  good  horse, „ 189 

A  good  liniment, •. 246 

A  salve, 240 

Anthelmintics, 242 

Astringents, 244 

A  drench  to  increase  the  appetite,  &c., 246 

Alterative  pow^der, 247 

Astringent  drench, 248 

Anodyne  ball, 248 

A  mercurial  blister, 252 

Antidotes  for  poison, 238 

A  mash, 253 

Adhesive,  or  sticking  plaster, 254 

Brief  history,  and  anecdotes  of  the  horse, 31 

Bots  and  worms, , 56 

Breach, 156 

Blinders  or  blinkers 232 

Burns, 63 

Blind  staggers,  or  apoplexy, 70 

Black  tongue, 72 

Bilious,  or  inflamatory  colic, 99 

Blood  spavin, 109 


334  INDEX. 

Page. 
Bone  spavin, 113 

Bitting  the  horse, 210 

Bleeding, 91 

Blistering  ointment, 252 

Breeding, 167 

Catarrh,  asthma  and  cough, 47 

Cribhing, 80 

Choking, 80 

Criterion  of  age,  &c., 143 

Castration  of  colts, 158 

Comparisons, 191 

Condition  powders,  how  made, .... 239 

Composition  powders  for  colds, 247 

Cordial,  or  invigorating  ball, 248 

Cheap  liniment  for  hoofs, 249 

Closing  remarks, 323 

Cheap  and  reliable  astringent  drenrti, 249 

Cure  for  mallenders  and  sallenders  (gout), 250 

Clyster  for  gripes, -, 252 

Diseases  and  injuries  of  the  eye, 82 

Derangement  of  the  stomach  and  bowels, 97 

Diseases  of  the  skin, 104 

Docking,  pricking  and  nicking, 161 

Dropsy, 108 

Disinfectants,  deodizers  and  fertilizers, 132 

Deafness, 150 

Distempers  contracted  by  marketing, 184 

Death,  beginning  at  the  lungs, 237 

Death,  beginning  at  the  brain, 238 

Death,  beginning  at  the  heart, 238 

Death,  by  the  effect  upon  the  system  generally 238 

Diuretics, 241 

Diaphoretics, , 241 

Demulcents. 242 

Diarrhea,  dysentery,  or  scouring, 102 

Driving, 266 

Dog's  oil, 245 


INDEX.  335 

Page. 
Explanation,  :  ....        l 

Expectorants, 241 

Erhines, 244 

Egg  shells, 245 

Embrocation  for  strains,  &c., 250 

Elder,  its  use, 253 

Founder, 54 

Feeding  and  nnedicating, , 274 

For  weakness  across  the  loins,  and  urinary  difficulties, 75 

For  sprains,  bites,  and  swellings  on  the  legs, 68 

Fever, 94 

For  stopping  joint  lee, 117 

Fistula  on  the  withers, 154 

Fever  ball  and  powder, 248 

Firing  and  blistering, , 251 

Glanders  and  farcy  cured, 134 

General  remarks  on  disease,  with  recipes,  &c., 271 

How  to  improve  ijje  condition  of  the  horse, 42 

Heaves, ...      51 

Harnessing, 230 

Horse  distemper, 71 

Hints  to  purchasers, 320 

Heave  powder, 240 

Hot  drops, 246 

Hoof  liquid, 249,  252 

Introductory  remarks, 25 

Lung  fever, 54 

Liniment  for  bruises,  sprains,  and  ulcers, 60 

Loss  of  appetite, 89 

Lameness  in  the  stifle  joint, 117 

Liquid  opodeldoc, 249 

Lithontriplics, •. 243 

Lotion  for  strains  and  tumors, 250 

Laxative  clyster, , 252 

Mange  ointment, 250 

Mild  liquid  or  sweating  blister, 252 

Mode  of  giving  balls  and  drinks, • 254 


336  INDEX. 

Page. 

Nutricious  clyster, 252 

Nicking, 163 

On  training  and  educating  The  horse, , 194 

On  the  subjugation  of  the  horse  without  medicating, 218 

Opodeldoc, 249 

Oil  of  spike, 249 

Pharnnacopcea,  or  second  part, 234 

Poll  evil, 152 

Poisons, 238 

Physic  Ball  for  horses, • 247 

Pricking, • ••....    161 

Ringbone, 116 

Recipes,  &c., 280 

Refrigerents, 242 

Rowels,  &c., 255 

Riding, 254 

Remarks  on  gathering  and  preserving  vegetables  for  medicine,.  279 

Slobbering, ^. 60 

Scratches, 61 

Swellings  and   inflammation, 62 

Stiff  joints  and  callouses, 63 

Sumach, 249 

Sweeny, 81 

Spasmodic  colic, 100 

Strangles, 122 

Sprung  knees,  and  string  halt, 124 

Star  or  blaze, 125 

Swelled  legs, 127 

Stable  management, 128 

Scalded  or  galled  breast, 151 

Surgery, 156 

Strong  liquid  blister, 252 

Shoeing, 67 

The  feet, 64 

Treatment  of  cords  and  muscles, 155 

To  destroy  lice  on  colts, 70 

The  abuse  of  the  horse,  with  blankets, t 74 


INDEX. 


337 


Page. 

To  prevent  flies  from  teasing  horses, 75 

The  horse  is  of  great  utility  to  man. 35 

To  cure  warts  on  horses, 75 

The  red  colic, 101 

The  lampass, S8 

To  learn  a  horse  to  lie  down, 211 

The  pulse,  inflammation,  and  bleeding, 89,  91 

To  spot  a  white  or  red  horse,  with  black  spots, 126 

Tetanus,  or  lock  jaw, 152 

Time  table,  running,  trotting,  and  pacing, 181 

The  stallion, 179 

To  take  ofl"  wind  galls, 68 

Tonics, 244 

Tobacco, 240 

Temporary  lifting, 248 

The  dead  shot, 252 

Volatile  oils, 235 

Wounds  and  old  sores, 63 

Treatment  of  wounds, 120 

Wind  colic, 98 

Wah  whoop, 282  . 

Yellow  water,  and  Jaundice, 149 

The  following  names  of  plants,  and  their  use  in  medicine,  to- 
gether with  somiC  valuable  receipts  both  for  man  and  horse  ; 
will  be  found  by  the  following  numbers  under  the  head  of 
Wah  Whoop: 

No.  1 .  White  oak  bark  and  buds 283 

2.  Snake  root, •  •  •  • 283 

3.  Indian  wormwood,    283 

4.  Pepper  root, 284 

5.  Larger  Golden  thread, 284 

6 .  Horsetail, 284 

7.  Gravel  weed, 284 

8.  Hemp, 285 

9.  Artichokes, 285 

10.  May  weed , 285 

29 


338  INDEX. 

Page. 

11.  Saffron, 285 

12.  Red  roses, 286 

13.  Vervine, 286 

14.  Witch  hazel, 286 

15.  Crow  foot  or  Butter  cup, 286 

16.  Summer  savory, 287 

17.  Currants, 287 

18.  Sweet  fern, 2S7 

1 9.  Plantain, 287 

20.  Strawberry  leaves, 287 

21.  High  Deer  weed, 288 

22.  Eyebright,  288 

23.  Dog  acna, 288 

24.  Running  hemlock, 289 

25.  For  the  bite  of  a  dog,  or  pricking  of  a  thorn, 289 

26.  To  take  a  film  from  the  eye, 290 

27.  For  a  cough  and  phthisic, 280 

28.  For  the  heart  disease, 290 

29.  For  a  burn, 290 

30.  To  cure  vegetable  poison, 290 

31.  Strengthening  plasters, 291 

32.  For  dropsy, 291 

33.  For  weakness,  or  general  debility  of  the  whole  system,  291 

34.  For  a  cough, 292 

35.  Cure  for  the  asthma 292 

36.  For  the  same  or  heaves, 292 

37.  For  a  sore  throat, 293 

38.  For  stoppage  of  urine,  urinary  balls, 293 

39.-  To  cure  canker  in  the  mouth, 294 

40.  A  plaster  to  ease  the  pain  of  swelling  or  felon, 294 

41.  A  good  salve  for  bruises,  &c., 294 

42.  To  stop  blood  from  a  fresh  wound, 295 

43.  To  make  Casler's  linimont, 295 

44.  To  make  Guiwitl's  liniment, 295 

45.  Cure  for  corns, 295 

46.  Avery^s  eye  wash, 296 

47.  Slaflbrd's  cordial  for  a  weak  stomach,  &:c., 296 


LNDEX.  339 

Page. 

48.  To  make  Tamer's  liniment  for  breach,   29G 

49.  To  make  good  advice  acceptable  and  useful, 296 

50.  For  a  very  weak  stomach  of  long  standing, 296 

51.  ifor  the  dropsy, S97 

52.  For  a  spavin, 297 

53.  For  the  rheumatism, 297 

54.  For  thrush  and  corns  in  founded  feet,  &c,, 298 

55.  In  order  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  the  pulse, 298 

56.  Renewal  of  life, 298 

57.  Lightning  liniment, 300 

58.  Mullen  oil,  or  tincture, 300 

59.  For  colt  distemper,  or  strangles, 30 1 

60.  Composition  for  ringbone,  or  spavin, 301 

6 1 .  For  rheumatic  affections  &c. , 302 

62.  For  bloat  in  horses  or  cattle, 302 

63.  For  founder,  stiffness,  &c,, 302 

64.  A  poultice, 303 

G5.  Elecampane, 303 

66.  To  learn  a  horse  to  pace, 303 

67.  Where  strong  erhlnes  are  wanted, 303 

08.  Wonderful  but  true, , S04 

69.  A  salve, 304 

70.  Ox  marrow, 304 

7 1 .  To  cleanse  and  heal  an  old  sore,  &c. ,  fever  sore, .......  304 

72.  To  clean  the  horse, 305 

73.  Caution, 305 

74.  Adhesive  or  sticking  plaster, 305 

75.  Liniment,  celebrated, 300 

76.  A  new  discovery  for  a  burn, 306 

77.  To  break  a  horse  of  kicking, 306 

78.  Cutting  teeth, 307 

79.  For  milk  leg  sores, 307 

SO.  Another  heave  ball, 307 

81.  A  liniment  for  sprains,  bruises,  ringboUes,  spavins  anl 

any  lameness, 308 

S2.  A  receipt  to  cure  sweeny, 308 

83.  Disinfecting  compound, 308 


340  INDEX. 

Page. 

84.  An  excellent  liniment  for  skin  fraclures  and  blotches, . ,  309 

85.  To  clear  the  eye  from  dirt, 309 

86.  Happiness  consist  in  doing  right, 309 

87.  Restoration  to  health, 310 

88.  The  Nonplus, 310 

S9.  For  a  general  medicine, 310  311 

90.  The  farmer's  medicine  chest, .' 512 

91.  Another  receipt  for  condition  powders,  .• 313 

92.  A  restorative  or  a  simple  digestive, 313 

93.  Frog's  oil  to  relax  the  muscles,  ^c, 314 

94.  A  good  domestic  liniment, 315 

95.  A  good  horse  liniment, 3 15 

96.  Cause  and  effects, 315 

97.  The  study  of  nature, 316  317 

98.  The  tourniquet. 318 

99.  Cure  for  a  despairing  mind, 319 


ERRATA. 

Pago  62.  Swelling  and  influmraation.     This  is  caused  by  taking  cold  after  cas- 
tration ;  Bhould  read,  That  is  caused,  &c. 

Page  64,  In  recipe,  should  read,  dissolve  two  drachms  of  sal  ammoniac  in  water. 
(For  it  is  soluble  onlj'  in  water  ) 

Page  115.  The  remedy,  tartar  emetic,  is  left  out.    Should  be  put  on  the  plaster 
for  bone  spavin. 

Page  126,  The  Vortl  smart,  should  read  asmart,  or  smart  weed. 


7" 


Webster  Famiiy  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veiarinary  Medicine  at 
Tuft?  University 
200  y    '"oro  Road 
North  biai.on.  MA  01536 


